I started crying when Liverpool signed me I regretted everything – and I’m a Manchester lad

 

I started crying when Liverpool signed me I regretted everything – and I’m a Manchester lad
Nathan Eccleston reveals all about his seven-year stay at Anfield in an exclusive interview with the ECHO

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ByKeifer MacDonaldNorth West Trends Writer
06:00, 30 DEC 2023
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Nathan Eccleston of Liverpool in action during a training session at Harvard University on July 18, 2012
Nathan Eccleston of Liverpool in action during a training session at Harvard University on July 18, 2012 (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Standing alone and visibly dejected in the torrential Merseyside rain, spectators seated in Anfield’s famous Kop grandstand trudged toward the exits as Nathan Eccleston’s fourteen years’ worth of dedication began to unravel.

“I thought my world was over because no matter your age, you have to take accountability as a professional footballer,” he tells the ECHO in an exclusive interview.

The then 19-year-old forward had been assigned the simple task of converting a penalty from 12 yards. For Eccleston, this had been his livelihood for three-quarters of his life, in a journey that had taken him from a council estate in north Manchester to rubbing shoulders with legendary figures Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

It was September 2010 and Roy Hodgson had not long been in the managerial hot-seat at Liverpool, yet unrest was starting to build among supporters. Just weeks into the new season fans were already longing for the campaign to end, as a trophy-starved Reds side played host to Northampton Town in the League Cup third round. It’s a fixture now used as a precursor as to just how low the standards of the club would sink during Hodgson’s dismal six-month stint.

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For the Cobblers, it was arguably the greatest night in their history, with the League Two outfit knocking out a club that had defied the odds to conquer European football some five years earlier. David N’Gog’s late header had temporarily saved Liverpool’s blushes as he pushed the game into extra-time, with two goals apiece the by-product of the 120-minute affair.

Possessed by his determination to impress, Eccleston seized an opportunity plenty of senior players had clearly shirked the responsibility of. On his first significant Anfield appearance, he walked towards the Kop End knowing how lofty the stakes of the penalty shoot-out were. Miss and Northampton would be one successful spot-kick away from one of English football’s great shocks. Score and he would secure an everlasting memory no one could ever deprive him of.

“I did my usual stutter and, yeah, it hit the crossbar at the Kop,” he recalls. “There was a picture, I remember at the time, the rain was lashing down and I put my hands over my face.

“I just remember the Kop singing my name as encouragement. I’ve always said, I said it as a 15-year-old going to my very first Liverpool game as a Manchester-born lad, Liverpool have the best fans in the world.”

A product of Bury’s youth academy, Eccleston made the move to the Reds as a promising 15-year-old after his prolific scoring record at youth level had attracted interest from teams in the North West. Raised in Newton Heaton, it was his Manchester United-supporting father who told him the news of interest from those on the other side of the M62. Eccleston was astonished.

“As you can imagine, being a 15-year-old lad from Manchester, when Liverpool are the ones that are calling you it comes as a bit of a surprise initially,” says Eccleston, who turns 33 today. “Then the overwhelming feeling of Liverpool being interested in me and wanting me to come down and trial hit – I literally just started crying. I knew what a great opportunity it could be for a lad like myself to go and present my skills to a club like Liverpool.

“That summer Liverpool had just won the Champions League, and whether you were a die-hard Liverpool fan or not, everyone in the world of football was a Liverpool fan that night because of how historic Istanbul was.”

After a meteoric rise through the ranks over a four-year period, complemented with international recognition by England’s under-17s along the way, Eccleston was surprisingly handed a way into the first team in 2009 during Rafa Benitez’s final season at Anfield.

At just 18 years old, he was also included in the Reds’ Champions League squad for the 2009/10 campaign. It was a blissful transition into life as a professional football for the striker who had been made to wash his own kit and put up the goal nets during his days as a youth scholar at Bury.

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That trajectory continued to rise when in September 2009, after his fine early-season form continued with the then Liverpool reserves, Sammy Lee, Benitez’s assistant manager, told Eccleston he would be included in the first-team squad travelling down to the Emirates for the League Cup tie with Gunners in two days’ time.

Despite Arsene Wenger’s men defeating a mismatched Liverpool side, who had slipped at the first hurdle in their quest to add to the Anfield trophy cabinet, for Eccleston, it was a moment he will never forget as he featured for the final two minutes after replacing Philipp Degen.

“There were a couple of younger players that I knew like Martin [Kelly] and Jay [Spearing] so I just stuck with them,” he says. The senior players like [Jamie] Carragher, Stevie [Gerrard] and [Javier] Mascherano I was just in awe of them. I would say hello to them quietly and keep it moving. It wasn’t until the following summer when Roy Hodgson took charge and I did pre-season with the seniors and fully integrated I guess, but as you can imagine as a 17/18-year-old it was pretty daunting walking into a room full of superstars.”

There would be another brief Premier League cameo in October away at Fulham but that was as good as it got during a breakout season for the youngster as shortcomings in the league for Benitez and his side, who plunged to seventh, would be the final chapter of the Spaniard’s illustrious Anfield reign as off-field issues regarding the club’s ownership contributed to his departure after six years.

Eyebrows were raised when stand-in chairman Martin Broughton replaced Benitez by appointing Hodgson, even if he had guided Fulham to the 2010 Europa League final and defeated Italian giants Juventus on the way. Though despite the underwhelming nature of the appointment quickly spreading through the fanbase, for Eccleston, it handed him his first opportunity as an Anfield first-teamer.

Additionally, the club’s ever-increasing £350m debt, largely owed to the Royal Bank of Scotland, meant the futures of Gerrard, Torres and Mascherano were in considerable doubt as the club desperately explored ways to balance the books. But for the recent graduates of the club’s Kirkby academy, it meant those coming through the door at Anfield would be minimal and there would be a full pre-season to impress Hodgson.

“I think something, that all players, not even just youngsters, imagine when they’re coming under new management is whatever happened in the past is gone and you’ve got a new opportunity. For me, I always looked at it as like, ‘okay, any bias towards any players had gone’.

“For me, it was, ‘okay if you remove the star name and just base us all on our work ethic and how we apply ourselves,’ it’s a great opportunity. Roy Hodgson certainly did that for me.

“I remember coming back from my loan, he brought a couple of youngsters up for pre-season, and I just grafted really hard. I think we were in Switzerland [pre-season] and I did really well and he just said, ‘you’ll be staying with us for the remainder of this season’, and I’d be training full-time at Melwood with the actual first-team. So for me, it was amazing.

“I remember specifically, that I played seven times under Roy and he was that type of manager if you were working hard in training and you applying yourself he would give you the opportunity. On a couple of occasions, he played me ahead of some senior players and some international players, and I was really grateful for that because he gave you a really fair crack at the whip. I was really grateful that he didn’t have a bias. That’s why I think, obviously, his time at Liverpool is probably viewed up and down but for me, as a player, I appreciated that he picked players on their attitude.”

As an inexperienced striker eager to learn his craft at one of the game’s greatest institutions, Eccleston’s promotion to Melwood on a full-time basis in the summer of 2010 handed him the opportunity to craft his style under the watchful eye of Torres.

Firing 17 goals in his second season on English shores and managing an impressive 24-goal return during his final full season on Merseyside before prevailing in the World Cup with his Spain, Liverpool’s No.9 was naturally being touted for a big cross-country move to Chelsea as his reputation on the continent continued to rise at an alarming rate. The Spaniard’s decision to stay put at Anfield until January 2011 handed Eccleston a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to soak in Torres’ supreme craft of finishing.

“It was the pinball effect! One-touch, two-touch, I used to always remember the players like Gerrard, as a striker, as soon as you would move they would see it and the ball would already be there. The pace of the pass was unbelievable, too!” he says.

“Fernando came to Liverpool and lit the club alight. He was amazing. His change of pace was out of this world, he only needed a yard to get past somebody and as everybody saw his finishing at Liverpool was so clinical. I had never seen anything like it! He kind of taught me about movement and that you only needed half a yard, because his movement was phenomenal.

“He [Torres] was very encouraging and he assessed that I was a young player and I was trying. So there were mistakes you could potentially get away with.”

Following a handful of strengthening cameos in the Europa League, it would be on that night against Northampton, as an innocent 19-year-old, where Eccleston would learn about the harsh truths of the professional game: the soaring heights followed by the gut-wrenching lows.

“As my hands were on my face, at that moment, the reality kicked in that I had just missed a penalty and we were out of the cup,” he recalls with a downbeat tone some ten years later. “After I was heartbroken in the tunnel and I just remember Sammy Lee saying, ‘get your f****ing head up!’ Stevie [Gerrard] came into the dressing room and said the same thing: ‘We’ve all been there and even the best players miss penalties, you’ll bounce back’.

“As you can imagine, that’s a distinctive memory of my life and I remember that game. Roy [Hodgson] picked the starting eleven and it had some really senior players and, no offence to Northampton, it was a team we should have been beating quite easily.

“I was hoping as a youngster I would come on and we’d be a couple of goals up and I could go on and have fun, but that wasn’t the case. I remember me and Jonjo [Shelvey] came on and we did really well. We went into extra-time and as a youngster, I was playing really well, I was attacking, confident and I felt great.

“When it went to penalties I was one of the players to step up, there were far more senior players but I was the penalty taker for the reserves at the time and I was confident taking penalties.

“I went into training the next day, and for me, the senior players and staff made me feel so assured that I didn’t do anything wrong. I was told that it shouldn’t have been left in my hands anyway, it showed what kind of character I was to step up in the first place. So, I kind of got confidence from that, but I think games after that I was confident the guys were like listen ‘ it happens to everyone.’ It was a learning curve.”

For those inside Anfield on that wretched autumn evening back in September 2010, it’s a night frequently recognised as the trigger for one of the worst spells in Liverpool’s modern history. However, for Eccleston, it’s the night when he defied the odds to fulfil a childhood dream as he featured at Anfield as a fully-fledged member of the Reds’ first-team. He has no regrets.

“As a football club, it was horrific to be knocked out of a cup by Northampton. A club, of the stature of Liverpool, should not be getting beat by Northampton at home. The whole experience of playing at Anfield in front of the Kop, it’s an experience I’ll never forget.

“I’ve always been the type of person to take things in my stride, but I guess I’ve always been the kid from the council estate. I always gave my best, is there much more I could have done? Probably not.

“I look back at those memories at Liverpool and they are the best years of my life, they shaped the man who I am today. For me, I beat the odds.”

*This interview was first published in July 2022

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Jurgen Klopp admits he spoke to 25-year-old about leaving Liverpool recently
Sat 2 December 2023 16:00
James Brooke
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that he held discussions with Caoimhin Kelleher about leaving the club.

Kelleher is set for a big role over the coming weeks, with regular No.1 Alisson Becker facing a spell on the side-lines with an injury,

It’s an overdue chance for the Irishman, who has been stuck behind Alisson since breaking through from the academy in 2019. His lack of game time had led to suggestions that Kelleher may leave the Reds during the summer.

And speaking to the press about the 25-year-old yesterday, Klopp confirmed that there were some ‘discussions’ held about that possibility.

“He is in general a focused person,” said the manager, when asked if Caoimhin is ready for his chance. “You will not see him in a bar tonight celebrating the clean sheet [against LASK on Thursday]. So, that’s not a problem. Caoimhin is prepared for that, he wants that now.

“We had discussions about it in the summer obviously. But as long as we don’t have a solution we cannot loan players. He’s home grown, all these kinds of things. The first responsibility is to do the best for Liverpool and we have to see how we can sort it. Now for him it’s a situation he didn’t want to have but, obviously, somehow yes, because you want opportunities, you want to play. Now he will get a few games, definitely, and yes, I trust him.”

Kelleher ready for starting spot
Had Kelleher left to be a number one elsewhere in the summer, you wouldn’t find many Liverpool fans begrudging him of it.

The Ireland international has been a fine No.2 to Alisson and deserves the chance to step up.

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Now 25, Kelleher is at an age where he should be playing regularly. With Ali going nowhere, supporters would be generally happy to see Caoimh go and do well at another club.

However, having said all of that, Liverpool should now be thankful that Kelleher stayed put.

He isn’t a perfect ‘keeper and has looked a little rusty in the early parts of this season. But against LASK on Thursday, he really showed what he’s all about. For a handful of games, the Reds can cope without Alisson.

This little run should also be enough to determine where Kelleher’s future may lie. If he steps in and performs well, it will really show that he can do a job for a Premier League side. That could lead to a sale next summer.

Should the academy graduate come in and look shaky or uncertain though, then maybe it will seal his future as a No.2.

Both scenarios may be no bad thing for Liverpool in the long-run. However, for this little patch of games, it would be helpful if Kelleher can do his best impression of Alisson. We’re all counting on you, Caoimh!

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Jurgen Klopp reply was spot on after leaked transfer text from Liverpool owners
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted to receiving an apology via text message from the club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, during his early days in charge at Anfield

Jurgen Klopp was appointed as Liverpool manager in October 2015 (Image: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
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ByMark Wakefield
10:00, 2 Dec 2023
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BOOKMARK
Jurgen Klopp received an apology from Liverpool’s owners in the early days of his time as manager.

Klopp was appointed as the Reds manager in October 2015, replacing Brendan Rodgers. Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports, Group, looked to bring in the German just months after his exit from Borussia Dortmund. In the eight years that Klopp has been at the helm at Anfield, the 56-year-old has won seven major trophies, including one Premier League and one Champions League. He was forced to wait until nearly four years on charge before his first trophy was won, though.

The topic of transfers has always been a subject of debate at Anfield, as is the case for every other Premier League club. Some of Klopp’s most high-profile signings remain at the club to this day, including Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Andy Robertson, among others.

READ MORE: Mo Salah’s classy response when two LASK players asked for his shirt after Liverpool win

It was in February 2021 that Klopp admitted that he received an apology from the club’s owners about the squad that he walked into at Anfield. John Henry is the principal owner of Liverpool and co-founder of FSG, alongside Tom Werner who works as the club’s chairman. Klopp was speaking ahead of a Champions League round-of-16 tie against RB Leipzig when he revealed a text message he received from his new employers years earlier.

“At the beginning I received a message from the US saying, ‘Sorry for the squad we’ve given you’,” said Klopp in February 2021. “But all was good I replied, it just needs time. There is a very strong tie to the owners, they support a lot. I just want to win football matches, to be honest.”

Klopp’s first starting line-up against Tottenham Hotspur in October 2015 consisted of Simon Mignolet, Nathaniel Clyne, Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho, Alberto Moreno, Emre Can, Lucas Leiva, James Milner, Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi. It did not take long for Klopp to make major changes to his squad.

For all the latest on news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US.

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Major transfers over the years saw £75 million spent to sign Van Dijk, £65 million for Alisson Becker, and, more recently, up to £85.5 million for Darwin Nunez. Some of those fees were offset by player sales, including the £142 million for Coutinho from Barcelona in January 2018.

Klopp decided to undergo a major overhaul of his squad during the most recent summer transfer window. Several players left the club including Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Those departures meant that Liverpool were forced to go into the transfer market for new midfielders. That led to the arrivals of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, and Wataru Endo, who have all played important roles for the Reds this season.

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Jurgen Klopp reply was spot on after leaked transfer text from Liverpool owners
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted to receiving an apology via text message from the club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, during his early days in charge at Anfield

Jurgen Klopp was appointed as Liverpool manager in October 2015 (Image: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
NEWS
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ByMark Wakefield
10:00, 2 Dec 2023
|
2
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BOOKMARK
Jurgen Klopp received an apology from Liverpool’s owners in the early days of his time as manager.

Klopp was appointed as the Reds manager in October 2015, replacing Brendan Rodgers. Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports, Group, looked to bring in the German just months after his exit from Borussia Dortmund. In the eight years that Klopp has been at the helm at Anfield, the 56-year-old has won seven major trophies, including one Premier League and one Champions League. He was forced to wait until nearly four years on charge before his first trophy was won, though.

The topic of transfers has always been a subject of debate at Anfield, as is the case for every other Premier League club. Some of Klopp’s most high-profile signings remain at the club to this day, including Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Andy Robertson, among others.

READ MORE: Mo Salah’s classy response when two LASK players asked for his shirt after Liverpool win

It was in February 2021 that Klopp admitted that he received an apology from the club’s owners about the squad that he walked into at Anfield. John Henry is the principal owner of Liverpool and co-founder of FSG, alongside Tom Werner who works as the club’s chairman. Klopp was speaking ahead of a Champions League round-of-16 tie against RB Leipzig when he revealed a text message he received from his new employers years earlier.

“At the beginning I received a message from the US saying, ‘Sorry for the squad we’ve given you’,” said Klopp in February 2021. “But all was good I replied, it just needs time. There is a very strong tie to the owners, they support a lot. I just want to win football matches, to be honest.”

Klopp’s first starting line-up against Tottenham Hotspur in October 2015 consisted of Simon Mignolet, Nathaniel Clyne, Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho, Alberto Moreno, Emre Can, Lucas Leiva, James Milner, Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi. It did not take long for Klopp to make major changes to his squad.

For all the latest on news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US.

Jurgen Klopp calls on Liverpool to keep creating opposition “nightmare” after 10 match run
10 Premier League talking points ahead of crucial weekend for Arsenal’s title hopes
Major transfers over the years saw £75 million spent to sign Van Dijk, £65 million for Alisson Becker, and, more recently, up to £85.5 million for Darwin Nunez. Some of those fees were offset by player sales, including the £142 million for Coutinho from Barcelona in January 2018.

Klopp decided to undergo a major overhaul of his squad during the most recent summer transfer window. Several players left the club including Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Those departures meant that Liverpool were forced to go into the transfer market for new midfielders. That led to the arrivals of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, and Wataru Endo, who have all played important roles for the Reds this season.

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Man Utd youngster was tipped to be ‘next Ryan Giggs’ before Erik ten Hag sanctioned exit
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Michelle Keegan’s ‘stunning’ winter coat that has ‘plenty of room for layers’
Man Utd consider £45m Premier League flop as first transfer after Sir Jim Ratcliffe takeover
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Jurgen Klopp reply was spot on after leaked transfer text from Liverpool owners
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted to receiving an apology via text message from the club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, during his early days in charge at Anfield

Jurgen Klopp was appointed as Liverpool manager in October 2015 (Image: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
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ByMark Wakefield
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Jurgen Klopp received an apology from Liverpool’s owners in the early days of his time as manager.

Klopp was appointed as the Reds manager in October 2015, replacing Brendan Rodgers. Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports, Group, looked to bring in the German just months after his exit from Borussia Dortmund. In the eight years that Klopp has been at the helm at Anfield, the 56-year-old has won seven major trophies, including one Premier League and one Champions League. He was forced to wait until nearly four years on charge before his first trophy was won, though.

The topic of transfers has always been a subject of debate at Anfield, as is the case for every other Premier League club. Some of Klopp’s most high-profile signings remain at the club to this day, including Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Andy Robertson, among others.

READ MORE: Mo Salah’s classy response when two LASK players asked for his shirt after Liverpool win

It was in February 2021 that Klopp admitted that he received an apology from the club’s owners about the squad that he walked into at Anfield. John Henry is the principal owner of Liverpool and co-founder of FSG, alongside Tom Werner who works as the club’s chairman. Klopp was speaking ahead of a Champions League round-of-16 tie against RB Leipzig when he revealed a text message he received from his new employers years earlier.

“At the beginning I received a message from the US saying, ‘Sorry for the squad we’ve given you’,” said Klopp in February 2021. “But all was good I replied, it just needs time. There is a very strong tie to the owners, they support a lot. I just want to win football matches, to be honest.”

Klopp’s first starting line-up against Tottenham Hotspur in October 2015 consisted of Simon Mignolet, Nathaniel Clyne, Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho, Alberto Moreno, Emre Can, Lucas Leiva, James Milner, Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi. It did not take long for Klopp to make major changes to his squad.

For all the latest on news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US.

Jurgen Klopp calls on Liverpool to keep creating opposition “nightmare” after 10 match run

10 Premier League talking points ahead of crucial weekend for Arsenal’s title hopes
Major transfers over the years saw £75 million spent to sign Van Dijk, £65 million for Alisson Becker, and, more recently, up to £85.5 million for Darwin Nunez. Some of those fees were offset by player sales, including the £142 million for Coutinho from Barcelona in January 2018.

Klopp decided to undergo a major overhaul of his squad during the most recent summer transfer window. Several players left the club including Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Those departures meant that Liverpool were forced to go into the transfer market for new midfielders. That led to the arrivals of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, and Wataru Endo, who have all played important roles for the Reds this season.

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‘I should have joined Man Utd after Sir Alex called me – but I listened to my wife’
Few people would be too scared to turn down an approach from Sir Alex Ferguson, but one ex-Premier League star was more afraid of his wife than the Manchester United boss

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ByPatrick Austen-HardyUS Sports Journalist
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Few people turned down Sir Alex Ferguson (Image: PA)

Former Arsenal and Chelsea star Emmanuel Petit said he would have joined Manchester United were it not for his wife.

The French World Cup winner enjoyed a successful career in England which saw him win the Premier League and the FA Cup with the Gunners. While his three year stint with the Blues did not bring the same success, he is widely looked back on by his former fan bases with positivity.

However, he had the chance to lift even more trophies when Sir Alex Ferguson called him and asked him to join the Red Devils. He would have likely packed his bags and headed to Old Trafford – were it not for his wife, Agathe de la Fontain.

READ MORE: Sean Dyche urges Everton players to take on next fight after points deduction blow

READ MORE: Roy Keane blasts ‘absolute bloody rubbish’ from Erik ten Hag’s post-match interview

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In 2001, Petit had his eye on a return to the Premier League after a difficult season at Barcelona. “I had many clubs interested in taking me back to England [in 2001],” Petit said in a previous interview with FourFourTwo.

“Arsenal approached me but so did Manchester United. I spoke to Arsene. He really wanted me back, but I was honest with him: I said, ‘I appreciate it and it’s very tempting, but I didn’t feel that you wanted me to stay when I signed for Barcelona a year ago’.

Do you think Emmanuel Petit made a mistake when he decided not to return to Arsenal? Let us know in the comment section below

Petit won the Premier League and the FA Cup at Arsenal (Image: Popperfoto via Getty Images)

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“It’s like divorcing somebody: when you don’t feel desired by them, what’s the point of going back?

“I should have gone to Manchester United, because Sir Alex Ferguson called me twice. We had a very good conversation and it was tempting, but once again I listened to my wife.

Petit would go on to play for Chelsea (Image: Getty Images)
Agathe de La Fontaine evidently felt the London life was not for her (Image: agathedelafontaineofficiel/Instagram)
“She wanted to go back to London – she didn’t want to live in Manchester – so I made the same mistake twice in one year.”

In the end, he went on to join Chelsea, where he spent three seasons before eventually retiring. In that period, Arsenal won two Premier League titles – including the 03/04 triumph where they did not lose a single match – and two FA Cups, while Ferguson lifted the one Premier League title and one FA Cup. At least Petit’s wife was happy though.

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Sky Sports journalist now shares what he’s heard about Liverpool signing Kylian Mbappe

Shamanth Jayaram
Sat 2 December 2023 7:17, UK
Updated Sat 2 December 2023 7:35, UK
Liverpool have been linked with a move to sign Kylian Mbappe from PSG, and Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg has shared the latest on the situation.

The Reds look like they are back to their best now after what was a fairly underwhelming campaign last time out. They are definitely in the title race, and that makes them a really attractive club for top players. However, the links with Mbappe aren’t accurate, says Plettenberg on X.

Photo by Christian Liewig – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
Sky Sports journalist says Liverpool are not pushing to sign Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe is expected to be a wanted man in 2024, and a number of clubs are said to be interested in his services, including Liverpool.

Football Transfers revealed just two days ago that the Reds are exploring the possibility of signing the French superstar if Mohamed Salah leaves the club next year.

Mbappe will become a free agent in the summer if he decides against extending his contract at Paris Saint-Germain – either by triggering his 12-month option or by signing a brand new deal.

Liverpool fans would sure love to sign Mbappe, but Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg has now revealed that the Reds aren’t pursuing a move to sign the World Cup winner.

He tweeted: “Been told that Liverpool is NOT pushing for Kylian Mbappé. His transfer in summer 2024 is not an issue at this stage.

“PSG, still totally relaxed as they are financially secured (contractually) for his possible departure. Real Madrid is still the most realistic destination for him, either next year or the year after.”

❗️Been told that Liverpool is NOT pushing for Kylian #Mbappé. His transfer in summer 2024 ist not an issue at this stage. #LFC

➡️ #PSG, still totally relaxed as they are financially secured (contractually) for his possible departure
➡️ Real Madrid is still the most realistic… pic.twitter.com/GokRb13Avf

— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) December 1, 2023
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Mbappe to Liverpool was always unlikely
Who wouldn’t want to sign Kylian Mbappe next year, especially on a free transfer?

The Frenchman is arguably the best player in the world right now, and he has the ability to improve every club on the planet.

Liverpool too would reach a whole new level if they signed Mbappe, but the Frenchman’s huge salary combined with what will surely be a mammoth signing-on fee means a move to Anfield was never likely.

It will be interesting to see where Mbappe will end up if he does leave PSG next year. As things stand, he won’t be coming to Liverpool.

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Chelsea are internally discussing re-signing ‘amazing’ player they sold for £30mPhoto by Giuseppe Cottini/AC Milan via Getty Images
Chelsea are internally discussing re-signing ‘amazing’ player they sold for £30m
Thu 23 November 2023 16:00
Dom Toner
There’s been conversations inside Chelsea about the idea of re-signing Fikayo Tomori.

That is according to well-respected journalist Simon Phillips.

Fikayo Tomori, who’s now 25, is a product of the Chelsea academy that came through the youth ranks at Cobham.

The centre-back played 27 first-team games for the Blues. However, he was eventually sold to AC Milan in a £30million deal (The Guardian) back in 2021.

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Chelsea discussions
Phillips has reported via his Substack this afternoon that Chelsea are talking about Milan’s star defender.

Apparently, there’s been recent conversations inside Stamford Bridge about a possible move for the former Blues youngster.

Phillip wrote: “I am told that Fikayo Tomori has been internally discussed at the club in recent weeks as a potential option for centre back.

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“I am not sure just how serious that interest is as of now, or who exactly has mentioned him. I just know that his name has come up in recent conversations at the club.”

Fikayo Tomori a quality defender
We’ve seen Tomori’s game come on leaps and bounds over the past couple of years in Italy.

The all-action centre-half has great pace, strength and reading of the game. He’s got big-game experience in the Champions League as well.

There’s no doubt that the move to Serie A has been excellent for his career. Incidentally, Tomori previously told The Players’ Tribune that he was convinced to join Milan by Thiago Silva.

We’ve got no doubt that the England international would return to the Premier League now as much closer to the finished article if Chelsea ramped up interest in his signature next year. We’re not sure that it’s necessary right now, though.

At this moment in time, Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino does already have a fantastic selection of centre-halves in the group. This includes the likes of Thiago Silva, Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi. There’s the injured pair of Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah on the sidelines, too.

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