December 26th 2024.
Emmanuel Petit, a former Arsenal player, recently opened up about his decision to leave the club in 2000, admitting that it was a mistake he regrets to this day. With a successful three-year stint at Arsenal, which saw him help the team win the Premier League and FA Cup in 1998, Petit had established himself as a fan favorite. However, his love life off the pitch influenced his decision to join Barcelona.
In an interview with Stadium Astro, Petit revealed that it was for the sake of a woman that he left Arsenal. He also shared that he had always admired Barcelona and Real Madrid, two of the biggest clubs in the world. But looking back, he wishes he had stayed with Arsenal instead of chasing after a dream that turned out to be not as fulfilling as he had hoped.
"You know, sometimes the grass is not greener somewhere else. It's better to stay where you are when you receive love and happiness and you are successful," Petit said, reflecting on his decision to leave Arsenal. It's a lesson he learned the hard way, as his marriage to French actress Agathe de La Fontaine ended in divorce just two years after he left Arsenal.
If he could turn back time, Petit would make a different decision and stay at Arsenal. "Why would you leave? Definitely [a big regret]. If I could turn the clock back, I would probably make a different decision," he said. With hindsight, he realizes that he should have valued the love and success he had at Arsenal instead of chasing after a new adventure.
After a brief stint with Barcelona, Petit returned to the Premier League to join Chelsea. He spent three years at Stamford Bridge before retiring from professional football in 2004. Looking back, he admits that he should have joined Manchester United, who had shown interest in signing him. However, he listened to his wife's desire to live in London, and it turned out to be a mistake he made twice in one year.
"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. 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," Petit shared in an interview with FourFourTwo.
As a former defensive midfielder and current football pundit, Petit has learned valuable lessons from his experiences. He advises others to think carefully before making big decisions, especially when it comes to leaving behind something that brings love, happiness, and success. In his case, leaving Arsenal was a decision he wishes he could take back, but he has learned from it and moved on.
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