Juventus Star Locatelli Reflects on Rejecting Arsenal as He Praises Mikel Arteta

Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli opened up about his decision to reject a move to Arsenal three years ago, following his standout performances at EURO 2020 in a recent interview with Tuttosport. Despite the Gunners’ strong interest, Locatelli chose to join Juventus, a decision he stands by to this day.

Locatelli, who has been a key player for Juventus since his transfer from Sassuolo in 2021, insists he has no regrets about his choice. “I’ve no regrets for joining Juventus instead of Arsenal,” he stated firmly. His move to Turin was driven by his long-standing admiration for the club, having grown up as a Juventus fan.

While Locatelli is content with his decision, he did not shy away from expressing his admiration for Arsenal and their manager, Mikel Arteta. “I love watching football, and I like watching their games. I respect their coach, Arteta,” Locatelli shared. He praised the progress Arsenal has made under Arteta’s leadership, highlighting the attractive style of play that the Spanish manager has instilled in the team.

I live it every day and I say it with my heart. Every day I get to the pitch I’m happy to train, to do extra work in the gym, for me it’s a lot of passion,’ he said. ‘I like watching the games, the Champions League but also the Serie B matches. I love football, I watch the other footballers.

‘I have matured a lot, as a person and a player. In these three years I had to be more consistent. I am always the first to question myself so I have another year to improve. I am here every day for this.’

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