Every Aston Villa fan, it seems, left Upton Park with an Olof Mellberg shirt except the very man himself who had to return to the dressing room post-match to salvage his kit from his last-ever match for the club.

On another emotionally-charged day Villa fans were able to say their very last goodbyes to the defender who has been a loyal servant to their club for the last seven years but has decided to join Italian side Juventus.

Mellberg was eager to keep his own shirt as his own special memento of the day having shelled out in excess of £50,000 to make sure every Villa supporter present at his finale all 3,200 of them had received a shirt upon entering the turnstiles bought and signed by the kind-hearted Swede.

Mellberg said: "I almost forgot my own shirt with all that happened but I think it will be nice to keep it for myself as this was such a special game for me.

"It was my own idea to give the supporters the shirts. It was an unusual situation for me because I knew so far in advance that I was leaving at the end of the season.

"During the last few months so many fans have asked me for a signed shirt and so I thought it would be a good idea.

"I would have liked to have done it for my last home game last weekend but I thought 45,000 shirts might be a bit too costly!

"I also wanted to do something nice particularly for the away fans because they have supported us and me throughout the year and they have been fantastic this season.

"This game had been sold out for quite some time so the club knew how many shirts to make and so I hope everyone got a shirt."

Mellberg refused to divulge just how deep he had had to dig into his pockets to fund his novel gesture but he insisted it was simply about saying goodbye to his fans.

"I wouldn't be here, making the money I have from football if it was not for those supporters," he said. "The money was not an issue. I have always said I have been trying to repay the fans' support by performing for them on the pitch and always giving 100 per cent and I think that is what fans appreciate more than anything.

"This was also a way for me to say 'thank you' in a different way on my final game. "

The 30-year-old said he was sad to leave and had mixed feelings but added he was delighted to leave Villa as a club on a high.

He said: "It is nice to go out this way. We have been striving all season for Europe and even though it is the InterToto, we should have a really good chance of making the Uefa Cup.

"That has been our aim and our focus and I am delighted we achieved it."

Mellberg, who will move to Juventus and his new career in Serie A after he has played in the Euro 2008 Championships with Sweden, added: "There were many reasons why I decided to go to Italy and Juventus had been following me for some time.

"I know their manager [Claudio Ranieri] pretty well and they are a big club. I felt this was an opportunity for me at the age I am and at the stage I am at.

"I will miss the Villa and the fans but, who knows, maybe we will be playing each other.