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I don't regret £20m Arsenal transfer snub but I love watching Mikel Arteta's side in action

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
-Credit: (Image: Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)


Manuel Locatelli insists he has no regrets about snubbing a move to Arsenal - despite admitting he enjoys watching Mikel Arteta's side.

The 26-year-old was heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium in 2021 after he played a key role in Italy's successful Euro 2020 campaign. However, the midfielder decided to remain in his homeland as he joined Juventus from Sassuolo in a £20m deal.

But despite making just over 100 appearances for Juventus in the three years since, Locatelli says he has no regrets about settling on a move to the Allianz Stadium rather than the Emirates.

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“No," replied Locatelli when asked by Tuttosport if he had any regrets. “But I love watching football, and I like watching their games and I respect their coach, Mikel Arteta.”

When the Gunners tried to engineer a move for the Italian three years ago, they were merely European hopefuls. Nowadays, however, Arteta has transformed Arsenal into genuine Premier League title contenders as they have twice finished as runners-up to Manchester City.

Juventus, meanwhile, have struggled to assert their dominance in Serie A since last winning the Scudetto in 2020, with Inter Milan, AC Milan and Napoli all enjoying title successes in the years since.

Locatelli has four years remaining on his current with Juventus after signing a new long-term extension in November 2023.