Arsenal defender Mathieu Debuchy has revealed Arsene Wenger blocked his loan move to Manchester United in the January transfer window.
The 30-year-old joined the Gunners from Newcastle United in the summer of 2014. In his first few months at the Emirates, injuries forced the France international to spend time on the sidelines.
Lack of options on the right-back position forced Wenger to field Hector Bellerin in that position. The Spaniard impressed in the full-back role and once Debuchy returned from injury, he struggled to break into the first team.
The former Newcastle defender was frustrated with the limited playing time and had discussed his situation with the Arsenal manager last summer. Wenger assured him that things would change, but he continued to struggle to get regular playing time at the North London club.
United are short of options in the full-back position as they are without Luke Shaw, Antonio Valencia, Marcos Rojo, Ashley Young and now Matteo Darmian joining the rest in the treatment room.
Debuchy joined Bordeaux on loan and before his switch to France, Louis van Gaal wanted to sign him until the end of the season. However, Wenger blocked his move, despite the player’s desire to join Arsenal’s league rivals.
“Yes, at the end of the transfer window they came in. They contacted my agents. I was disappointed, obviously. If I had the chance to go to Manchester United it would have been magnificent,” Debuchy told Canal Plus, as quoted by ESPN.
“Unfortunately it wasn’t the case. I discussed it with the coach too, who said that obviously he couldn’t help out a rival.”
“Yes, I’m a little bit annoyed by him. It’s his choice [not to give him playing time]. I came back well this summer, I had a good preseason.
“I was able to talk to him to know my future at Arsenal. He said that I would have game time and that we would discuss it in December. Unfortunately, I didn’t have this game time.”
Debuchy will be hoping to get some regular playing time under his belt at Bordeaux as he will be hoping to make it to the France national squad for the summer’s European championship.
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