Arsene Wenger has claimed that Aaron Ramsey “wanted to stay at Arsenal”, despite his eventual move to Juventus.
Wenger took Ramsey to Arsenal as a teenager in 2008 and managed him for the following 10 years, although the pair have since left the club.
In the Welshman’s case, he rejected a new contract at Emirates Stadium last season in favour of a free transfer to Juve.
“In the end I met him once, he wanted to stay at Arsenal,” the 70-year-old told beIN Sports.
Arsene Wenger has claimed that Aaron Ramsey “wanted to stay at Arsenal”, despite his eventual move to Juventus.
Wenger took Ramsey to Arsenal as a teenager in 2008 and managed him for the following 10 years, although the pair have since left the club.
In the Welshman’s case, he rejected a new contract at Emirates Stadium last season in favour of a free transfer to Juve.
“In the end I met him once, he wanted to stay at Arsenal,” the 70-year-old told beIN Sports.
“They had an agreement and the club came back on that, from what I understood.
“I tried a long time to extend his contract but sometimes you have influences of agents as well.
“Every case is different and you have to understand in decision makings always who is influential – or not – when you make transfers.
“What I know from him, he was keen to stay.”
The ex-Gunners boss was then asked if the Wales man had made the right move, signing for the Bianconeri.
“If he plays,” he replied.
“Like Ruud [Gullit] says, you have to win but as well when you’re 27 or 28, that’s your best years as a football player.
“If you don’t play from 27-32 that’s difficult to swallow. You can be patient at 21, 22, 23… you’re in and out. Once you get to 27 you have to play.”
Meanwhile, Ramsey apologised to Cristiano Ronaldo after he turned in the Portuguese’s free kick against Lokomotiv Moscow last night, thereby depriving him of his first goal for Juve directly from a set-piece.
“There and then, I thought the goalkeeper was closer to me than the goal line.
“My instinct got the better of me and I turned the ball in. After that, I apologised to Cristiano.”