Arsenal legend admitted he “should have joined Man Utd” after multiple calls from Sir Alex Ferguson

One Arsenal legend admitted he should have joined Manchester United instead of Chelsea back in 2001.

Emmanuel Petit spent three fine seasons in north London, where he formed a fearsome midfield partnership with compatriot Patrick Vieira, before moving to Barcelona in 2000.

However, he lasted just a year at the Catalan giants, before being linked with a move back to the Premier League. United and Chelsea then came knocking, while the Frenchman was also rumoured with a return to the Emirates.

Petit ultimately opted to join the Blues, a decision he regrets to this day.

Lifting the lid on the situation, the 53-year-old admitted he should have joined Sir Alex Ferguson’s United team instead of Chelsea.

Speaking to FourFourTwo Petit said: “I had many clubs interested in taking me back to England [in 2001].

“Arsenal approached me but so did Manchester United.

“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?”

Petit added that Ferguson had personally called him on two separate occasions, attempting to entice the World Cup winner to switch Catalonia for Old Trafford.

However, Petit was ultimately convinced by his then-wife, French actress Agathe de La Fontaine, to return to London.

He explained: “I should have gone to Manchester United because Sir Alex Ferguson called me twice. We had a very good conversation and it was tempting, but once again I listened to my wife.

“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.”

Both United and Arsenal would battle for Premier Leagues and lift multiple trophies in the years that followed, while Petit failed to add any medals to his tally before his retirement in 2004. During three seasons at Stamford Bridge, he featured just 55 times.

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Topics: Arsenal, Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, Football

Joe Adams

Joe is a Journalist for SPORTbible with a primary focus on football. He has previously covered a number of other sports including boxing, rugby and F1. Wishes he was born left-footed.

@joeadamsjourno