'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Besiktas striker Demba Ba has revealed that he was close to joining Arsenal this season but opted to go to Besiktas instead.
The striker moved from Chelsea for £8 million after falling down in the pecking order last season. The 29-year-old played against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League play-off which was decided thanks to the Gunners’ new signing Alexis Snchez’s goal.
When asked if he regretted not joining the London club now that their main striker Olivier Giroud is out for the rest of the year, the Senegalese star replied in the negative.
“I’m happy at Besiktas,” he replied. “How close did I come to joining Arsenal? As close as you and me here, but it’s past. I just look forwards.
“Everybody knew that I wanted to come here [to Arsenal]. I could have maybe waited longer in this transfer window, but I wanted to go and play for Besiktas because it’s a great club.”
When asked if Chelsea would have let him join a Premier League rival, Ba replied Jose Mourinho had talked to him.
“Yes, because this time Jose [Mourinho] told me. Last summer he wanted to keep me, but he said this time if I had any opportunity he would let me go.”
