Fekir snubs Man City: 'If I leave, it will be for Arsenal'

A number of Premier League sides have been linked with Lyon’s in form forward Nabil Fekir recently, and his father believes he should choose Arsenal over Manchester City, according to the Daily Mail.

The French international has been lighting up Ligue 1 this season, and he – along with Alexandre Lacazette – has been a huge part of Lyon’s incredible domestic success so far.

A number of top European clubs have been credited with an interest, with a handful of Premier League giants particularly keen to acquire his services. Arsenal and Manchester City are listed as among those teams by the Mail, but his father has a pretty strong opinion about where he should end up.

Fekir and his agents have recently parted ways, with the player unhappy that they were trying so hard to push through a deal to Manchester City.

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His father Mohamed insisted that his son was not prepared to make a big money move just to sit on the bench, but Fekir’s representatives continued to chase a deal with City.

“They pushed for him to sign for City. But I told them if he goes to City and finds himself on the bench, it doesn’t interest me, and the kid is not interested either,” he told French publication Foot Mercato.
“He loves to play, he does not like to be replaced. And they pushed to sign him for City, that’s why he preferred to stop with them.”

The 21-year-old is thought to be keen on working under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger, who is highly respected in football, and especially so in his native France.

Fekir’s father believes his best chance of progression would lie at the Emirates, where he can learn from Wenger and grow as a player.

He claims that if his son does leave Lyon, then it will only be for Arsenal.

“Nabil would like to finish 1st or 2nd and play Champions League football with Lyon,” Mohamed Fekir is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

“If he leaves, it’ll be for Arsenal. It’s the only club that can enable him to progress, with Arsene Wenger. He will not go to Manchester City to sit on the bench.”

This just goes to show the draw that Wenger still has, as players from all over the world hope for the chance to train under him. Without Wenger we surely wouldn’t have been able to bring some of the big name players to the Emirates that we have done recently.

Fekir’s versatility would make him an excellent addition, as he can play as both a striker and an attacking midfielder. Versatility is a quality that hugely appeals to Wenger, so this deal could certainly be on the cards.