Lille OSC president and owner Gerard Lopez has revealed that Nicolas Pepe chose to join Arsenal in the summer transfer window over a number of other clubs qualified to take part in this season’s Champions League.
Lopez said that the 24 year-old Ivory Coast international traded top-tier European football for the chance to move to the London club – who are playing in the Europa League this year – because he was persuaded by their plan for the future.
Lopez added that Lille had received offers in excess of the €79 million they eventually agreed with Arsenal – including “a very big offer from Spain” – but the player decided that joining ‘The Gunners’ was in his best interest.
“I think in the case of Nicolas Pepe it was a special summer somehow, we had a number of offers and Arsenal’s was the most important of them, however we agreed with Nicolas and his agents that once we get the wanted amount it was up to him to make a sporting choice based on (that),” he said.
“I think he made a sporting choice, really sporting in the sense that he wanted to be at a club where he has a role to play, in the construction or reconstruction of this club.”
Watch Lopez share his full thoughts in the video above.
