Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed how Alexis Sanchez rejected several clubs to force through a move to the Gunners.
The former Barcelona player moved to Emirates stadium last July in a £35m deal and he has since gone on to become one of the Premier League’s most consistent players, scoring 12 goals in 22 Premier League appearances.
A number of clubs have admitted their failed attempts to sign the Chilean with Liverpool and Juventus topping the list, whilst Wenger has confirmed that the former Udinese forward had his heart set on joining Arsenal.
“Alexis has played in Italy, in Spain and he moved clubs – that of course helps,” Wenger told Arsenal Magazine.
“The second part is that the move is a reward for what he really wanted. Alexis had a few options and he chose us because he felt that’s where he wanted to go. Sometimes a player moves somewhere and it’s not the choice that he deeply wanted. In his case, I think he really wanted to join us.
“On the pitch, the player has his needs. I felt that he came into a team that plays in an [attacking] way, where he can express his talent with freedom. It works out well for him. That helps.
“After, another step is that a team welcomes you with the values that you rate, and that in some parts of the team, you can feel at home when you need it sometimes.
“That means there are people inside the squad with a similar culture. For example we have plenty of Spanish-speaking people and I believe that helps to integrate people well.”