Manuel Neuer reveals he turned down interest from Arsenal
FC Bayern veteran Manuel Neuer has revealed that Arsenal showed interest in him while he was playing at youth level.
| Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Image |
Manuel Neuer came through the youth ranks at FC Schalke 04 before moving to Bayern Munich.
However, as the 39-year-old goalkeeper revealed on the At Broski show, his career could have taken a very different path, as both 1. FC Köln and Arsenal showed interest in him while he was still a youth player.
“After the U19s, 1. FC Köln were very interested in me – and so were Arsenal,” Neuer said.
“At the time, Arsène Wenger was still the coach and spoke many languages. But I didn’t want to go abroad because I knew how difficult it is as a young goalkeeper.”
Neuer ultimately chose to stay at Schalke, where he made his professional breakthrough in the 2006/07 season.
In 2011, he moved to Bayern Munich, where he remains under contract today.
