The partners of footballers can have a considerable influence on the transfer window. Emmanuel Petit had the bitter experience of this.
During the summer of 2000, when he had recently been crowned European champion with the French team, Emmanuel Petit left Arsenal to join FC Barcelona. A transfer guided by his partner at the time and which the former midfielder still regrets today.
“If I could go back in time, I would probably take another option. I always saw Barcelona and Madrid among the biggest clubs in the world, but I should have stayed with Arsenal”confided the sports consultant on the airwaves of RMC.
Bad Catalan experience
“Sometimes the grass isn't greener elsewhere, and it's better to stay where you are. When you get love and pleasure and success, why leave? “, asks the 1998 world champion, who only stayed one season at Barça, during the 2000-2001 financial year. During this, he was ostracized by a group of Catalan players.
After his painful experience in Spain, Emmanuel Petit returned to England. In June 2001, he signed for Chelsea, which allowed him to regain his best level. With the Blues, the Dieppe native formed a formidable defensive midfielder duo with Frank Lampard.
