.jpg)
An Arsenal legend admitted it was a mistake to snub Manchester United after multiple calls from Sir Alex Ferguson.
An Arsenal legend admitted it was a mistake to snub Manchester United after multiple calls from Sir Alex Ferguson.
Emmanuel Petit spent three seasons in north London, forming a fearsome midfield partnership with compatriot Patrick Vieira, before moving to Barcelona in 2000.
However, he lasted just a year in Catalunya before being linked with a Premier League return. United and Chelsea were both said to be keen, while the Frenchman was also linked with a return to Arsenal.
Petit ultimately opted to join the Blues, a decision he now admits he regrets, given Ferguson’s interest.
Speaking to FourFourTwo, Petit said: “I had many clubs interested in taking me back to England [in 2001].
0 seconds of 30 secondsVolume 90%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard Shortcuts
Shortcuts Open/Close/ or ?
Play/PauseSPACE
Increase Volume↑
Decrease Volume↓
Seek Forward→
Seek Backward←
Captions On/Offc
Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreenf
Mute/Unmutem
Decrease Caption Size–
Increase Caption Size+ or =
Seek %0-9
“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 in an attempt to entice the World Cup winner to switch the Camp Nou for Old Trafford.
However, Petit was ultimately convinced by his then-wife, French actress Agathe de La Fontaine, to return to London.

Petit regretted joining Chelsea (Getty)
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 retiring in 2004.
In fact, in three seasons at Stamford Bridge, he featured just 55 times.
News
Discover the Hidden Health Benefits of Common Mallow: Nature’s Nutritional Gem (an)
Discover the Hidden Health Benefits of Common Mallow: Nature’s Nutritional Gem Common mallow, also known as Malva sylvestris, is often overlooked and dismissed as a mere weed. However,…
Boost Your Energy Like an 18-Year-Old with This Powerful Lemon and Honey Remedy (an)
Boost Your Energy Like an 18-Year-Old with This Powerful Lemon and Honey Remedy Introduction: Reclaim Your Youthful Energy Do you often find yourself wishing you could feel…
13 Health Benefits of Phyllanthus Niruri (Stonebreaker) (an)
Phyllanthus niruri, commonly known as Stonebreaker, Chanca Piedra, is a powerful medicinal herb widely used in traditional medicine. This plant is well-known for its liver-protective properties and its…
Yarrow: A Timeless Herbal Ally with Amazing Health Benefits (an)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), a perennial herb, has been revered for centuries as a medicinal plant with a wide array of health benefits. Its use dates back to…
Just 1 Leaf of This Plant Is Worth a Gold Mine – Euphorbia Hirta (Did You Know That?) (an)
Euphorbia hirta, commonly known as asthma weed or snake weed, may appear as an ordinary wild plant, but it is a true gold mine when it comes to its…
End of content
No more pages to load