‘Lacazette Almost Joined PSG’- Arsenal Boss Unai Emery

Arsenal manager Unai Emery has revealed the close rivalry between Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon denied him the opportunity to sign Alexandre Lacazette.

The France international had previously revealed he snubbed a move to the French capital prior to moving to The Emirates Stadium in a deal worth £46.5 million ($60.78m).

Emery was appointed PSG boss in 2016 and has detailed the difficulty of acquiring Lacazette, who eventually chose to move to the Premier League.

“When I arrived at PSG we were thinking about signing Lacazette,” said Emery.

“He was at Lyon and it wasn’t easy to have the conversation or to sign a player from Lyon or for Lyon from PSG.”

“Now we are speaking together with Laca every day,” he added.

“Last year was his first year in the Premier League, it was a different league to the French League, a different position for him, a different rhythm.

“Not a different mentality, though, because he has a very good mentality and he gives himself very good chances to score. He is very efficient.

“But he needs to continue his adaptation to us, to the Premier League and to its rhythm.

“And this year we are looking at one step more in this level from last year.