TOP STORIES - Retired defender says entourages prevented Arsenal transfer in 2010
Retiring in 2019 after a spell with LA Galaxy, Michael Ciani enjoyed a good career for a football player, playing for the likes of Auxerre, Sporting CP, Bordeaux, Lazio, Lorient and Espanyol before heading to the USA.
The Frenchman defender also managed to get himself one cap for his country in the process, called up by Raymond Domenech 11 years ago, which was probably the best period of his playing career.
Ciani’s three years at Bordeaux drew some attention from abroad, which the star recalled when speaking to Family Football Club, more particularly Arsenal.
Arsene Wenger was the head coach at the time, and fans know the French chief loved to snare some talent from Ligue 1 when he was in charge of Arsenal, with Laurent Koscielny a shining example of Arsene’s ability to spot gifted youngsters where others might not.
Michael appeared to be another one of these, but, cited by Girondins4Ever, Ciani revealed why he never put on the red and white shirt of the Gunners.
He said: “The biggest club that came after me? I had a period when I was approached by Arsenal. It’s when I was at Bordeaux. It wasn’t my fault because I would have accepted immediately, but there was a story of agents, I think…
“I’d just arrived at Bordeaux, it was my first year. I was in the national team, the top scorer in the Champions League (laughs).
“I was really at the peak of my career. I therefore got that approach, and it was kind of just forgotten. It could have been a good opportunity for me”.
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