Mathieu Debuchy was deemed surplus to the needs at Arsenal, and in the January transfer window, he was loaned out to mid-table Ligue 1 side Bordeaux FC for the remainder of the season. However, the defender says that he would have preferred to go to Manchester United, and they too were interested in a move, but wasn’t allowed to do so.
The French right-back lost his place in the Gunner’s starting XI due to his battle with injury, and the performances of Hector Bellerin who has made the position his own. He is now playing for Bordeaux, but recently confirmed that Manchester United had made an approach for him on deadline day of the January transfer window, but he was not allowed to join the Red Devils.
“At the end of the transfer window they came in,” the 30-year-old told French channel Canal +.
“They contacted my agents. I was disappointed, obviously. If I had the chance to go to Manchester United it would have been magnificent.
“Unfortunately it wasn’t the case. I discussed it with the coach too, who said that obviously he couldn’t help out a rival.”
Gut punch by Professor Wenger
As the business end of the season approaches, Arsene Wenger knows that the chances of his team going all the way and winning the title could end up being hinged on a few key moments. With the league being as unpredictable as it has been, any small factor could sway things in a club’s favour.
If this was a move that Wenger made only to ensure he didn’t help strengthen Manchester United before their league meeting at Old Trafford, then it could end up becoming a masterstroke. The Red Devils are facing an alarming crisis at the fullback position. With Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo, Antonio Valencia, Phil Jones, Ashley Young, and most recently Matteo Darmian, all out with injuries, Manchester United are in a fix.
The presence of an experienced fullback like Debuchy among their ranks could have gone a long way to help the club, but Wenger made sure that it didn’t happen.
