Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud has revealed that he tried to convince compatriot and new Tottenham Hotspur signing Moussa Sissoko to join the Gunners this summer.
Moussa Sissoko was a heavily sought-after player this summer with a host of top clubs — Premier League clubs in particular — vying to secure his signature. The Frenchman was also reportedly not totally against the idea of staying with Newcastle in the Championship, which is the second tier of English football.
With no significant bids forthcoming for the France international, Sissoko looked set to play in the Championship until Tottenham swooped in on deadline day to sign the player.
Moussa Sissoko was linked with Everton and Arsenal too, but seemed happy to have joined Tottenham, who would provide him with the opportunity of playing top-tier domestic football as well as Champions League football this season.
The Frenchman’s international teammate Olivier Giroud revealed in an interview to Le 10 Sport that he had tried to convince the player to sign for Arsenal in the summer.
Giroud said, “I told him to give Arsenal the priority. It’s true it was special denouement. Until the end he didn’t know what he’ll do.”
However, the Arsenal striker congratulated Sissoko on his move to Tottenham and wished him all the best in his endeavours with the North London rivals.
“It’s good for him,” said Giroud. “I think it was quite a long month for him so it’s good that something could have happened even in the very last moments. It’s great for him. Tottenham is a great team in our league.”
Arsenal managed to sign Lucas Perez and Shkodran Mustafi before the end of the transfer window and with the abundance of talent available at Arsene Wenger’s disposal in the midfield, one wonders if Wenger would even have considered a move for Sissoko.
