Arsenal's Barcelona rejection revealed: I refused to listen to Wenger in the summer

SERGI SAMPER has revealed he rejected the chance to move to Arsenal from Barcelona in the summer.

Posted Wednesday, January 18, 2017 by Dailystar.co.uk

The midfielder was eventually sent out on loan by Luis Enrique to Granada for the season.

But before the 21-year-old made the La Liga switch, Arsene Wenger apparently came calling.

Samper's future ambitions to shine at the Nou Camp saw him turn the down the opportunity to head to north London though.

Arsenal's Barcelona rejection revealed: I refused to listen to Wenger in the summer
Barcelona loanne Sergi Samper has played 13 La Liga games at Granada this season

"I did not want to listen to [Arsene] Wenger," Samper told Granada's official website.

"I told him clearly that I wanted to stay, I wanted to succeed at Barcelona, and what would make me happy was succeeding at Barcelona in the future."

Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic are all ahead of Samper in the pecking order at Barcelona.

And that resulted the Spain Under-21 international leaving to get more first-team experience, but only on a temporary basis.

Subsequently, Arsenal have been left somewhat short in their central midfield this season.

Jack Wilshere's loan to Bournemouth and Santi Cazorla's long-term injury means Wenger only has Francis Coquelin, Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny to choose from and rotate in his side.

Any pursuit down the line for Samper appears to be off the cards too due to his desire to prove himself at Barca.