Victor Wanyama reveals why he snubbed Arsenal for Southampton

FOOTBALL Victor Wanyama reveals why he snubbed Arsenal for Southampton

Mark Kinyanjui 09:00 - 29.12.2023

The former Harambee Stars captain has revealed why he snubbed Arsenal despite being offered a deal by Arsene Wenger’s side to join Southampton in 2013.

Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has finally opened up on why he turned down a move to Arsenal to join Southampton in 2013.

Wanyama joined Southampton from Celtic in a move worth  £12.5 million, making him the first Kenyan to ever play in the Premier League.

The 32-year old had enjoyed a rise to prominence at Celtic, winning the Scottish Young Player of the Year award for his heroics in his final season at the club, with his most memorable moment being scoring the winning goal in a Champions League group stage match against Barcelona, which even prompted Andres Iniesta to ask for his shirt after the match.

Speaking on Radio 47, Wanyama has revealed that his season earned him interest from several clubs, including Manchester United, Arsenal, QPR and Cardiff.

“When I was at Celtic, there were several EPL clubs that wanted me,”  Wanyama said.

“There was QPR, who were like Manchester City in that they had a lot of money, there was Cardiff, there was Arsenal and Southampton as well.”

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Wanyama has revealed that Cardiff, Southampton and Arsenal tabled concrete offers for him, but he has revealed how advice from his agent Ivan Modia Yanez led him into choosing Southampton.

“The options were put on the table and my agent gave me his advice. He told me ‘as my son, I think going to Southampton would be the best for your career because it is stable’.

“‘ I don't want you to go to a place where you will have so many demands and the pressure will be too much on you before it brings you back down.’

“‘Cardiff are fighting relegation, but Southampton is not a bad team. They are building a  team and they have a coach who arrived from Spain (Mauricio Pochettino) who wants you and thinks you can be the player who can make the team start challenging for titles.’

“ So I said okay, and that is how I signed for Southampton.”