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Arsenal transfer news: 'Gunners offered me a four-year deal but I turned them down'
YASSIN FORTUNE has opened up on his decision to leave Arsenal despite a plea from academy chief Per Mertesacker.
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Fortune joined Arsenal in 2015 from French side Lens along with Jeff-Reine Adelaide in a reported £3m double deal.
But despite comparisons with Thierry Henry, Fortune was never able to break through at the Emirates.
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And in June, Fortune left the club and joined Swiss side FC Sion.
Speaking in an interview with French publication Foot Mercato, Fortune revealed Arsenal offered him a four-year deal but still opted to leave.
“Arsenal offered me a 4-year extension,” he said.
“But I wanted to enter into professional football. Arsenal is a great club, but I needed playing time.
“I had to play, and I preferred to leave. It was difficult to stay at Arsenal in the sense that there were big names and a new manager (Emery).
“I spoke with Per Mertesacker which made me think very hard. He wanted me to absolutely stay.
“But I felt again that the best solution was to leave. At that moment, I was not yet in contact with Sion, but with other clubs.
“I was contacted by Sion a couple of weeks after deciding to leave.
“I wanted to come back to France but despite a few contacts Sion convinced me.”
Fortune also had some words of praise for former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and the people at the club.
He added: “Wenger had already seen me play.
“He spoke with Lens. Today, I thank him for all that. I could never thank him enough for that.
“In the youth teams at Arsenal, he would come and see us often, he would speak with us.
“It is a very familial club. From employees to gardeners, everyone loves each other. That really struck me.”