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EXCLUSIVE – Stiliyan Petrov reveals disappointment in Aston Villa contract snub: ‘It wasn’t explained to me. I would have played for free!’

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Stiliyan Petrov has told talkSPORT he was 'hurt' after being denied a contract at former club Aston Villa, having fought his way back to fitness following his cancer battle.

The former Villans and Bulgaria captain was forced to suspend his playing career in 2012 after being diagnosed with acute leukaemia, but three years later revealed he was eyeing a return to the game after beating the disease.

He was invited to pre-season training with Villa this summer and even joined the Championship club’s trip to Austria ahead of the new season with the hope of proving his fitness.