Title trauma influenced Flamini move
by Joseph Caron Dawe, 11 May 2008
Departing Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini has revealed that the ‘pain’ of missing out on the Premier League title this season was one of the major factors in his decision to quit the club.
The Frenchman signed a four-year deal with Milan last week after assessing his future at Emirates Stadium, and the 24-year-old will join the Rossoneri at the start of July.
Having spent much of the second half of the season pondering his long-term prospects the France international made a final call and opted to join the Italian outfit.
And now Flamini has explained that had The Gunners – who sat five points clear at the top of the table in February – not suffered the slump which ended their title aspirations he may well have remained in North London.
“That would have weighed in the balance. It would certainly have counted,” Flamini told the News of the World.
“I had actually wanted to sign a new contract at Arsenal last July but it didn’t happen. Milan did so much to sign me I couldn’t refuse.
“What happened to us after leading the league for so long was the most painful experience I had during four years at Arsenal.
“It has hurt terribly to have invested so much of yourself, to have given everything, to have gone beyond pain and to fall short in the end.”
Flamini added: “I hope with all my heart that Arsenal win the title next year. And I would love to play against them in the Champions League final next year.”