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Arsenal defender David Luiz lifts the lid on Chelsea departure and Frank Lampard talks
David Luiz has confirmed he wanted to leave Chelsea before an offer had come in from Arsenal.
Arsenal star David Luiz has aimed a thin-veiled jab at Chelsea boss Frank Lampard while discussing his summer departure from the club.
David Luiz believes Lampard’s “ideas of football were different” to his.
The 32-year-old left Stamford Bridge in the summer after three years in west London.
Having played a key role in Maurizio Sarri’s side last season, it was surprising when it emerged that the defender wouldn’t be a part of Lampard’s plans.
Instead, Lampard decided to opt for a younger approach to his squad, and it seemed that Kurt Zouma and Fikayo Tomori would be his preferred centre-back duo.
With Arsenal desperate to sign a new defender in the summer, Arsenal launched a deadline day bid for the Brazilian.
But speaking to The Telegraph, Luiz admitted he had already planned to leave Chelsea after his talks with Lampard.
“I decided to leave Chelsea before there was contact with Arsenal," he said.
"People do not know that but I decided early to leave Chelsea.
"After that I had contact with Arsenal and I took a decision which everybody knows was not easy.
“Me and Lampard, we had honest conversations. Man to man, me and him.
“His ideas of football were different to mine.
"We just agreed: ‘OK, we move on’. In an honest way, in a mature way."
Luiz played 90 minutes in Monday night’s defeat to Sheffield United.
The Blades secured an unlikely win thanks to Lys Mousset’s close-range finish on the half-hour mark.
Mousse tapped in from Jack O’Connell’s header to give United the three points.