The A*ntöniö
06-18-2013, 11:20 AM
Yaya Sanogo says a meeting with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was enough to persuade him to snub a move to Lille and join the Gunners instead.
Comments Email Print To send a link to this page to a friend, you must be logged in.
The 20-year-old Auxerre forward and France youth international will join Arsenal when the transfer window opens in July.
His move to the Emirates marks an impressive return from a serious leg injury which threatened to derail his career back in 2010.
He told France Football: “I wanted to stop. I told myself it was useless to go on and to imperil my health.
“I could not run any longer. I had too much pain, the doctors didn’t know what to do. But, one day I went for a jog and step by step I made my way back.”
Ligue 1 side Lille were desperate to beat Arsenal to Sanogo’s signature, but the highly-rated youngster says he was impressed after meeting Wenger.
“I told my agent the choice would be made between these two clubs,” he said. “Lille’s coach Rudi Garcia called me all the time. I hesitated a lot.
“Gilles Grimandi [Arsenal scout] came to see me from time to time at Auxerre too. One day he called me for a meeting in a Paris hotel and Arsene Wenger was there. I was very impressed.
“Wenger told me I would get opportunities and reassured me about my injury. He told me he had followed me for years. That meeting was very important and today I am an Arsenal player.
He added: “It will be an amazing adventure. I am just eager to start in one of the best leagues in the world. It is a dream that has come true.”
Comments Email Print To send a link to this page to a friend, you must be logged in.
The 20-year-old Auxerre forward and France youth international will join Arsenal when the transfer window opens in July.
His move to the Emirates marks an impressive return from a serious leg injury which threatened to derail his career back in 2010.
He told France Football: “I wanted to stop. I told myself it was useless to go on and to imperil my health.
“I could not run any longer. I had too much pain, the doctors didn’t know what to do. But, one day I went for a jog and step by step I made my way back.”
Ligue 1 side Lille were desperate to beat Arsenal to Sanogo’s signature, but the highly-rated youngster says he was impressed after meeting Wenger.
“I told my agent the choice would be made between these two clubs,” he said. “Lille’s coach Rudi Garcia called me all the time. I hesitated a lot.
“Gilles Grimandi [Arsenal scout] came to see me from time to time at Auxerre too. One day he called me for a meeting in a Paris hotel and Arsene Wenger was there. I was very impressed.
“Wenger told me I would get opportunities and reassured me about my injury. He told me he had followed me for years. That meeting was very important and today I am an Arsenal player.
He added: “It will be an amazing adventure. I am just eager to start in one of the best leagues in the world. It is a dream that has come true.”