Barcelona icon David Villa says he very nearly signed for Arsenal in 2013.
The Spanish forward, who was one of the best goalscorers in the world in his pomp, spent the bulk of his legendary career in La Liga. He burst onto the scene at Real Zaragoza in 2003 before sealing a career-defining move to Valencia two years later.
Villa blasted 108 goals in 166 league games for Los Ches, and Barcelona came calling at the end of the 2009/10 season, a few weeks before he fired Spain to glory at the World Cup in South Africa. His time at the Camp Nou was partially hampered by injury, but he still managed 48 goals in three seasons as he and Lionel Messi powered the club to eight major honours in three years.
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Neymar arrived at Barcelona in 2013, and with the club actively pursuing a move for Luis Suarez, who would join a year later, Villa knew his time in Catalonia was up. He entered into negotiations with Arsenal, and a deal was on the verge of being completed before Atletico Madrid swooped in and hijacked the move.
"We were in a lot of meetings and a lot of calls," the 42-year-old told BBC Sport in 2020. "I felt 90% at that moment that I would go to Arsenal and play under Arsene Wenger. But at that moment we didn't arrive to the deal, Atletico Madrid arrived and in three or four days fixed everything."
Would Arsenal have won the Premier League with David Villa in their side? Let us know in the comments section below.
Villa partnered Diego Costa up front in Diego Simeone's Atletico side as they became the first team to pip Real Madrid and Barcelona to the La Liga title since Valencia managed it a decade before. He moved on after just one season, signing for New York City following a brief loan at Melbourne City, but nonetheless maintains that choosing Atletico over Arsenal was the right call.
"I don't know what would have happened if I'd signed for Arsenal," Villa added. "I'm very happy that I signed for Atletico Madrid, not just for winning the league but for everything. I'm very happy to have made that choice."
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The Gunners held off on signing a new forward until the following year when they managed to lure Villa's former Barcelona team-mate Alexis Sanchez to the Emirates – so they're probably happy Villa chose Atletico too.
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