Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: Arsenal, Premier League, Transfers, Inter Milan, Torino
Ryan Smart
Topics: Arsenal, Premier League, Transfers, Inter Milan, Torino
Italy international defender Armando Izzo has opened up on his decision to reject a transfer in 2019, with Arsenal and Inter Milan both wanting to sign him.
The 31-year-old, who currently plays for Monza on loan from fellow Serie A side Torino, used to be regularly linked with a move to the Premier League.
West Ham scouted the centre-back in 2018 when he was at Genoa and were said to be interested in signing him, but Torino ensured that Izzo remained in the Italian top division.
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His form for the club resulted in a maiden call-up to the Italy senior squad in the following year, and he has received three caps for his country - all in 2019.
That year, he was also linked with a move to the Gunners, who were on the lookout for defensive reinforcements.
Then under the management of Unai Emery, Arsenal had to cope with the sudden departure of long-serving centre-back Laurent Koscielny, who informed the club that he wanted to leave during pre-season.
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They went on to sign David Luiz from Chelsea, before sealing a loan deal for Spain defender Pablo Mari in the January transfer window after Mikel Arteta took charge.
Mari is now playing alongside Izzo at Monza, on loan from Arsenal, and looks set to complete a permanent deal to the Italian side this summer.
Izzo's future is unclear - but he has now opened up about one of his a potential move that failed in the past.
Speaking in an interview with Italian outlet Cronache di Spogliatoio, the 31-year-old revealed that he agreed to stay at Torino after his first season after they qualified for Europe, despite interest from Arsenal and Inter Milan.
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But despite another solid season after that, he said that the interest dried up the following summer - leaving him with a major regret.
Izzo explained (quotes via Sport Italia): "The year I renewed with Torino, after qualifying for Europe, my former agent and the president Urbano Cairo told me that Arsenal and [Antonio] Conte's Inter Milan were there.
"I had feeling for Toro, I believed in the project and I stayed another year.
"That year, I scored six goals and I didn't hear from any team. I asked myself, 'How is it possible that there is no team?'
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"Then, after two years, Bremer, with four goals and finishing 10th, he goes to Juventus. My dream was to go to Inter, I've never been able to."