Former Arsenal star Emmanuel Petit has openly expressed regret over his decision to join Chelsea when he returned to the Premier League after his stint at Barcelona.
Having enjoyed a successful time at Arsenal, Petit moved to Barcelona but spent just one season there before seeking a return to English football. Both Chelsea and Manchester United were interested in signing him, while Arsene Wenger was also eager to bring him back to Arsenal and actively tried to convince him.
Ultimately, Petit made the choice to join Chelsea, a decision he now admits he regrets.
‘Arsenal approached me, but so did Manchester United.’ Petit told FourFourTwo.
‘I spoke to Arsene. He really wanted me back, but I was honest with him: I said, ‘I appreciate it and it’s very tempting, but I didn’t feel that you wanted me to stay when I signed for Barcelona a year ago’.
‘It’s like divorcing somebody: when you don’t feel desired by them, what’s the point of going back?”
Additionally, his wife wanted them to move to London. He said: ‘She wanted to go back to London – she didn’t want to live in Manchester – so I made the same mistake twice in one year.’
Just Arsenal Opinion
No one knows if it would have been a better move if he returned to Arsenal from Barcelona. However, having been a good player on our book previously, we can understand why Wenger wanted to work with him again.
Perhaps his regret will be a lesson to some players, but Cesc Fabregas made a similar career move and did not seem to regret it.
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