Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder Willian reacts during the English Premier League football match between West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal at The Hawthorns stadium in West Bromwich, central England, on January 2, 2021. (Photo by Rui Vieira / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by RUI VIEIRA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
According to Metro, former Chelsea star Willian admitted that he did not want to leave the club last season. However, after failing to agree on a new deal, the 32-year-old move across London to rivals Arsenal on a free transfer.
However, Willian has struggled massively since joining the Gunners and has hardly shown any bit of the form that he showed while at Chelsea. It’s rather worrying that Willian is yet to score even one goal for Arsenal since joining.
Now the Brazilian forward has come out admitting that he would have liked to stay at Chelsea if it was possible.
“It was difficult to make that decision, it wasn’t easy. Because, as you said, the rivalry between the two clubs is very big. It wasn’t an easy decision to leave Chelsea for Arsenal. It was well thought out, a thoughtful decision, talking to my wife and even the agent many times.
The Brazilian added that his discussions with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and director Edu convinced him to make the move.
“And one of the things that made me decide to go to Arsenal was really the various conversations I had with Mikel Arteta, with Edu too. They convinced me to go there that it’d be a really cool project, that it’d be really good for me to be able to go there. That I’d be a very important player in the squad.”
Further elaborating on the circumstances in which he left the Bridge, Willian added that he wanted to stay but wasn’t able to reach an agreement with the club over a new deal.
“Look, I think some fans asked this question. But the majority understood because I didn’t leave the club with a fight, I left the doors open. Everyone knew the conditions, I really wanted to stay. We ended up not finding an agreement, I ended up asking for three years, Chelsea wanted to give two, and everyone knows this story. That’s why I ended up leaving.”
Willian also spoke about his desire to remain in Europe and not finish his career playing in Brazil. The forward had a hugely successful stint at Stamford Bridge winning the Premier League and Europa League before joining Arsenal this season.
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