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9 months ago
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Emmanuel Petit assures that he left Arsenal for Barça out of love for his ex-wife. A choice he bitterly regrets.
Christophe Dugarry, Laurent Blanc, Lilian Thuram, Emmanuel Petit or Thierry Henry: many French world champions in 1998 have at one point given in to the sirens of Barça. But none of them had the expected success. The best illustration of the curse that seemed to affect the Blues in Catalonia was undoubtedly Emmanuel Petit.
Indisputable in England where he shone in the midfield of the Gunners, he was only a shadow of himself for the Blaugrana, repositioned as left-back by Louis van Gaal. And although he ultimately only stayed one year at Barcelona before returning to London, this time to Chelsea, his career was never the same again after this failed experience.
“If I could go back in time…”
And more than twenty years later, the former Monegasque still regrets his decision to join Barça. A choice made moreover “for love of a woman”his ex-wife, the actress Agathe de La Fontaine. “If I could go back in time, I would surely take another option”he also confided to the podcast, adding: “I always saw Barcelona and Madrid among the biggest clubs in the world, but I should have stayed with Arsenal. »
“Sometimes the grass isn't greener elsewhere, and it's better to stay where you are, he continued. When you get love and pleasure and success, why leave? » A few months after his return to London and the birth of a little girl, Emmanuel Petit was going to divorce. And on the pitch, after a blank season at Barça, he was not going to win any trophy with the Blues, having to settle for an English Cup final in 2002.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
 When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
