READING FC interim manager Noel Hunt was left angered by striker Lucas Joao who opted out of playing in the final game of the Championship season.
With the team already relegated ahead of their trip to the John Smith’s Stadium, Hunt claims that Joao decided not to travel.
“I don’t want to talk about Lucas (Joao),” said Hunt.
“I think we’ve wasted enough time on people who aren’t committed to giving 100% to Reading.
“I got a text message on Thursday after the game and after that it was just best to leave it at that in terms of commitment.”
Joao’s current deal with the Royals expires this summer and he is expected to depart the club.
The 29-year-old forward joined Reading back in the summer of 2019 for a fee of around £5million from Sheffield Wednesday.
He netted six goals in 19 games in his first season in Berkshire, but found his feet the following year under Veljko Paunovic.
Joao scored 19 goals in 39 games as the Royals pushed for promotion throughout the entire season only to fall away in the final few weeks of the campaign and miss out on the play-offs.
The Angolan international bagged 10 more goals in the 2021/22 campaign that was impacted by injury before he scored seven goals in 34 games this season.
Along with strike partner Yakou Meite, he will now be available to leave the club on a free transfer.
