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caption:Joseph Yobo currently plies his trade at Norwich.
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On-loan Norwich defender Joseph Yobo has defended himself against a landlord who accused him of causing 5,000 pounds of damage to a rented flat.
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Former Everton player Yobo insists that he never even lived in the penthouse apartment, even though it was leased in his name.
The Nigeria international said that the rent had been paid by his brother Gideon, who was willing to pay for any damage.
Landlord Ray Smith said he was horrified on seeing the state of the Liverpool flat when the keys were returned to the letting agent last weekend.
Smith described burn marks on the carpet, a dirty kitchen and bathroom, and holes in the wall left by a flat screen television.
He told the Liverpool Echo: “The state it’s been left in is just unbelievable.
“There’s bond money of 1,500 pounds -- but by the look of it, it will need 5,000 pounds to put all the damage right and I will have to call in industrial cleaners.
“There are iron marks on the floor, as if left by ironing, and holes in the wall left by flat-screen TVs.
“I’ve never come across anything like this before and I’m just so shocked. The place looks as if it’s been burgled.”
Yobo, who last played for Everton in 2010 and is currently on loan at Norwich from Fenerbahce, said he had never been to the flat, which is in South Ferry Quay, close to Liverpool Marina.
The defender told the Echo: “It’s my name on the lease, but I never lived at the flat and I’ve never even been there.
“The landlord doesn’t know me and he hasn’t spoken to Gideon about this. I have property too and the landlord should have gone to the letting agents if he was unhappy.
“If he puts in a full inventory, Gideon is ready to pay for anything that is damaged.”
The 33-year-old joined Everton from Marseille, initially on loan, in 2002, completing a 3.5 million permanent deal the following year. He made more than 250 appearances for the Toffees, including in the 2009 FA Cup final, which they lost 2-1 to Chelsea.
Yobo moved to Fenerbahce on loan in 2010, spending two years in Turkey before making that move permanent in 2012.