Ex-Chelsea Defender Reveals He Was Close To Joining Arsenal

Former Chelsea centre half Alex has revealed that he was close to joining North London giants Arsenal when he left Stamford Bridge back in 2012. The Brazilian signed for Chelsea in 2004, but spent three seasons on loan at PSV Eindhoven, before playing more than 125 games for the Blues up until 2012. Alex says […]
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sambafoot_admin
2018-05-07 17:24:00

Former Chelsea centre half Alex has revealed that he was close to joining North London giants Arsenal when he left Stamford Bridge back in 2012.

The Brazilian signed for Chelsea in 2004, but spent three seasons on loan at PSV Eindhoven, before playing more than 125 games for the Blues up until 2012.

Alex says he received a proposal from the Gunners upon leaving Chelsea, but in the end, Paris Saint Germain made a better contract offer.

"We talked when I was about to leave Chelsea. I was away, I received a call from an Arsenal director, who asked me the values of my salary, if I was interested," Alex told Goal.

"The conversation was very quick, but he did not call again. In the end, I sealed a move to PSG. My wish was not to leave Chelsea, but I had been training alone for three months, it was not easy.

"At first me and [Nicolas] Anelka trained together, but then he left, and I was alone. If Arsenal had come up with a good, concrete proposal, I would have taken it. I repeat: it was not a desire to trade Chelsea for Arsenal, but I would have accepted it. I wanted to play."