Ashley Cole says he still feels hurt by the backlash he received after his move from Arsenal to Chelsea in 2006.

An Arsenal academy graduate, Cole made the switch across London for £5m, which saw William Gallas move in the opposite direction.

Gooners were furious with Cole, believing the decision was financially motivated. And the former England international, who recently joined Derby County, says the criticism still hurts him to this day.

"It's still there," he said on Monday Night Football. "It hurts me because it wasn't just my fault. I didn't leave for no reason. I didn't go to Arsene Wenger and say 'today I want to leave' - there was more to it.

"It happens in football and I see it happen to a lot of other players. It's life.

"I moved on and they moved on, but I do feel sometimes a bit sad because it was my club and I played there since I was nine. To have that ill-feeling from the fans still is hard sometimes."