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].
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“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.
Paul Scholes Was ‘The Most Overrated English Footballer Of All Time’, Says Former Prem Player (an)
The former Birmingham City player also mentioned that Scholes failed to win a single vote for the Ballon d’Or prize.
Paul Scholes has been labelled the “most overrated English footballer of all time” by former Premier League midfielder Curtis Woodhouse.
The 42-year-old, who made three appearances in England’s top flight for Birmingham City during his two-year spell at St Andrews, has been vocal about Scholes on a number of occasions down the years.
Back in 2020, he pointed out that the former Manchester United midfielder failed to make a PFA Team of the Year during his career – but he did so on two occasions.
Curtis Woodhouse in action for Birmingham City against David Beckham at Old Trafford. Image credit: Alamy
He wrote: “Scholes ran that many games for Manchester United he was never ever ever ever voted into the PFA team of the year by the players he was running games against. Just let that sink in.”
“Scholes was never ever voted into the PFA team of the year. It’s voted for by the players of every team competing in the league that year. To be respected by your fellow professionals as the best is the highest accolade.
“Steven Gerrard holds the record of being voted in 8 times.”
Image credit: Alamy
Woodhouse continued: “He had Keane next to him, Giggs and Beckham either side and Yorke and Cole up top! Oh and Rio and Vidic behind him! Paul Scholes running games is a footballing myth that’s grown and grown since he retired.”
He also claimed Scholes retired from international football at 29 years of age because “he couldn’t get a game in his preferred position” of centre midfield.
“That position was occupied by the great Steven Gerrard and the very good Frank Lampard,” he added.
The age-old ‘Gerrard, Lampard or Scholes’ debate is a popular one on social media and Woodhouse, a former British light-welterweight champion, once again voiced his opinion on the latter on Sunday.
Ballon d'Or votes
Curtis Woodhouse 0
Paul Scholes 0
Steven Gerrard 220Facts don’t care about feelings @talkSPORT
— Curtis Woodhouse BEM (@curtiswoodhous8) June 12, 2022
He mentioned the fact that Scholes failed to win a single vote for the Ballon d’Or prize throughout his career.
“Paul Scholes didn’t receive a single vote for the Ballon d’Or in his entire career,” Woodhouse tweeted. “Not one person EVER voted for him. The most overrated English footballer of all time. Please end this debate.”
Liverpool legend Gerrard, who ranked above both Frank Lampard and Scholes in the overall Ballon d’Or voting table, received 220 votes throughout his career, while former Chelsea midfielder Lampard recorded 169.
Paul Scholes didn’t receive a single vote for the Ballon d'Or in his entire career. Not one person EVER voted for him. The most overrated English footballer of all time. Please end this debate.
Kind regards
Curtis Woodhouse BEM @talkSPORT ✅— Curtis Woodhouse BEM (@curtiswoodhous8) June 12, 2022
Paul Scholes ✅ https://t.co/rdoGfbieVA
— Curtis Woodhouse BEM (@curtiswoodhous8) June 12, 2022
Woodhouse once labelled Scholes’ former teammate Ryan Giggs as “unbelievably overrated” in another social media post.
“Ryan Giggs another unbelievably overrated Manchester United player,” he wrote. “Outstanding longevity but in a team that dominated for years and were a free scoring machine his statistics for goals and assists is awful.
“Another Manchester United myth, good player, never anything more.”
Anthony Gordon’s reaction to Gareth Southgate’s team talk during extra-time of England win vs Switzerland spotted (an)
Anthony Gordon couldn’t hide his emotions
England have booked their place in the semi-final of Euro 2024 but Anthony Gordon has gone viral on social media.
The Three Lions will face either the Netherlands or Turkey in the semi-final after beating Switzerland on penalties.
Breel Embolo opened the scoring for the Swiss after 75 minutes but Bukayo Saka hit back five minutes later with a stunning long-range effort to keep England in it.
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Gareth Southgate’s men needed penalties to progress with all five players stepping up to find the back of the net to go through after Manuel Akanji’s spot-kick was saved by Jordan Pickford.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s winning penalty sparked mass celebration from the England camp but the reaction of Gordon during extra-time caught the eye of England supporters.
The Newcastle winger has played just one minute of football plus stoppage time at Euro 2024 despite a stellar club campaign with the Magpies.
Roy Keane’s reaction to Jude Bellingham’s overhead kick vs Slovakia has gone viral (an)
With England needing a goal, Gordon was overlooked from the bench yet again against Switzerland and his reaction during Southgate’s team-talk in extra-time was a cause for concern.
The 23-year-old was pictured looking glum as the England manager dissed out instructions and was later seen stood far away from the main group.
Anthony Gordon
Alan Shearer has led calls for Gordon to be given the chance to impress for his country and the ex-Everton man is confident he still has a role to play in the tournament.
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“My main strengths are I am very direct, I’m obviously quick,” he said earlier in the tournament. “I know I am a nightmare for anyone that I play against.
“I’m positive. Every time I get the ball, I always try to make something happen. I’m not a very safe player, I am always going for it. I am always trying to put people on the back foot.
“With players we have got – the likes of H [Harry Kane], who likes to drop deep – I think I add a different element to the team.”
