Revealing his rocky relationship with Arsene Wenger, out of favour Arsenal full-back, Mathieu Debuchy has hit out at the Gunners boss’ decision to block his transfer from Arsenal to Manchester United.
The 31-year old, who moved to Emirates in 2014 after some world class displays for Newcastle United, lost his place to Hector Bellerin and spent the second half of the last season on loan at Bordeaux. He has returned to the Emirates this term but has failed to win Wenger’s faith so far and is linked to a move away from the club in January.
However, things would have been very different for the France international had Wenger not played a vital role in stopping him from leaving the club earlier this year. Debuchy was reportedly wanted by former Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal at the Old Trafford on a five-year deal. Reports in February also suggested that Wenger blocked a loan move for the right-back to Manchester United.
“I wasn’t playing a lot, it was United, there’s nothing else to say. For me, it was almost unexpected, but the coach said no,” said Debuchy. “It’s something I did not appreciate. He wasn’t using me, so I didn’t see his interest in doing that.”
Debuchy also revealed that he is only on talking terms with Wenger.
“We acknowledge each other, we say hello, nothing more,” he said.
The French defender also had the option to move out of the club in summer with both Espanyol and Fiorentina reportedly interested in him but the North London outfit once again blocked the move.
“I had opportunities at the end of the transfer window,” Debuchy said. “Unfortunately, the club didn’t want to let me go. I had a good preseason, I gave my all, but from the first game, I wasn’t in the squad. It was a real blow. I said to myself that things weren’t starting well.
“My situation doesn’t meet what I had been hoping for, but that’s football. There have been things, injuries and the coach’s choices that have meant that I haven’t played. Even if I don’t understand, I’m not surprised, I know how it works.”
Debuchy added: “I have had some very difficult moments. Now, I try to channel that, to take it out in my work. I don’t show anything, I dig in. I have always worked like that.”
He made his first appearance since November 2015 during the 3-1 win over Bournemouth last month but limped off the ground after only 16 minutes due to a muscle injury. And with chances hard to come by at Arsenal, he has expressed his desire of leaving the club soon.
He said:“[I want] a way out. I want to take on a new challenge, to get back into it, to simply do my job properly. At a given time, you miss the excitement, the adrenaline…”
French newspaper Le Parisien had reported Marseille is keen to bring Debuchy to Ligue 1 where he played for Lillee before moving to Newcastle United in 2013 and the player is also interested in securing a move to the French giants.
“I told my agents to get back to me only if there was something concrete. But Marseille is Marseille. Even if the results have been a bit difficult, it’s still one of the biggest clubs in Ligue 1. Also, there is a great project being put in place with a coach I know well,” he said.