Blackburn Rovers skipper Chris Samba has slammed national newspaper reports claiming he has pleaded with Rovers to let him join Arsenal.

Samba was reported yesterday as saying: “A player who has no ambition to play at a higher level has made a mistake and chosen the wrong sport.”

The 27-year-old though was furious at suggestions he had disrespected his current employers by talking about other clubs.

He said: “The declaration made about me are totally false, I never said that.

"It is nonsense. I never mention other clubs, I’m a Rovers player and will never mention other clubs.

"It’s disrespectful.”

Samba has been the subject of intense speculation about his future this summer but Rovers have still not received any firm bids for him.

Read Simon Garner's column on Chris Samba in today's Lancashire Telegraph newspaper.