EXCLUSIVE
Troy Deeney has admitted he could have played for arch-rivals Aston Villa - but only if he could bring a part of Birmingham City with him.
The ex-Blues striker is a diehard fan of his old club but told talkSPORT he could have represented both sides in the Second City derby.
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Deeney claimed on White & Jordan that the rivalry between the West Midland outfits is bigger than Arsenal and Tottenham.
However, in the same appearance, he revealed he could have turned out for both teams, despite once admitting he tried to fight Villa players following a 2-1 defeat when he was at Watford in January 2020.
Having been born in Birmingham, Deeney grew up just six miles from St Andrew’s and he even has the club's crest tattooed onto his leg.
He later played for the Blues from 2021 to 2023, but years earlier Villa had come calling - with his body ink proving a sticking point.
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When asked by Jim White whether he would have ever pulled on a Villa shirt, the 35-year-old revealed: "I had an opportunity to, yeah.
"My friends let me know it wouldn't be a good idea, and secondly they wanted me to remove my Birmingham City tattoo as well."
He continued: "The club [Aston Villa wanted me to], that was part of the conversation.
"But they've gone onto bigger and better things and so have I."
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Deeney is best remembered for his time with Watford, spending 12 seasons with them, six of which were in the Premier League.
In 2013, following his 20-plus goal haul with the Hornets in the Championship, Villa made their interest known.
Troy Deeney shocks Simon Jordan as he calls Aston Villa vs. Birmingham City a bigger rivalry than Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur
The forward joked that it would have been difficult to see his Birmingham-mad family had he moved, but the idea of removing or covering his tattoo made it impossible.
Deeney added: "No I wouldn't have [had it removed], that's why it didn't get too far.
"My best friend is Birmingham City die-hard, my whole family are Birmingham City apart from my brother who weirdly decided to go against the grain.
"It would have been a difficult place to live and see the family if I was playing for Aston Villa for a few months.
"I'm sure they would have got over it afterwards"
We're not sure they would have Troy...