Szmodics’ deal was the toughest of MacAnthony’s negotiating career and the new signing is now the highest paid player at Peterborough United

In fact he was on the verge of pulling out of the deal just minutes before the Championship club finally agreed a fee which will eventually cost Posh over a million pounds.

The 24 year-old was unveiled as a Posh player to great acclaim from the club and its fanbase last week. He has become the highest paid player at the club.

“We tried to sign Sammie last summer,” MacAnthony said on his popular ‘Hard Truth’ podcast. “But he wanted to play in the Championship.

“We finally got him in on loan last January and he was outstanding for us. The idea was if we went up we’d sign him, but lockdown came and our season was destroyed.

“In May I contacted Sammie (legally as I was still paying his wages) and told him we wanted him, but he said he wanted to give it it a go in the Championship. I respected that as he’d been honest and transparent with me.

“I kept in touch with my Bristol contacts in pre-season and I don’t mind admitting I was pleased when Sammie didn’t appear to be playing much in their main team.

“I then got wind that their manager had told him he wouldn’t be playing much for them so I contacted his club and got permission to speak to him.

“Sammie is one of those players who just wants to play.

“We didn’t want to loan him again as we felt he would be an asset for us.

“The problem there was he was on hefty Championship wages and City understandably wanted to make a profit on him.

“I had to then go into overdrive and get creative on the numbers. I had to agree a deal with the player and his agent and with City and it became the toughest deal I’d ever done.

“I was close to pulling out on thenight before we signed Sammie. I’d gone as far as I could.

“I’d lost the will to live with the deal, but just as I was typing out my e-mail saying ‘thanks but no thanks and good luck for the season’ City came on to me and said everything was agreed, we could conduct a medical and sign him so happy days.

“Another club in League One had a bid accepted, but I was always confident Sammie would choose us.

“Massive kudos to my partners because the deal wasn’t cheap. We’ve managed to spread it over four transfer budgets which helps with the salary cap.

“Sammie is not on much more than than the others. Everyone in the squad has financial incentives to succeed. We have a good bonus payment structure.

“All the players want to play in the Championship and they all wanted Sammie to come back. as he will help us all get back there.”