Brazilian midfielder Willian has confessed that his transfer from Chelsea to Arsenal was a significant error, revealing that he asked his agent to arrange his departure just three months after signing the contract.
In 2020, the player, then 32, made the switch across London after spending seven years at Stamford Bridge. He was initially aiming for a three-year contract, but Chelsea only offered him two. It was then that Arsenal's head coach Mikel Arteta stepped in, promising the Brazilian a key role in his project.
Reflecting on those negotiations during The Obi One podcast, Willian recalled:
Arteta told me: ‘We’re going to play like this. I want you to be a key player; we’re going to build the team around you... I want to give you the keys to the club.’ When you hear something like that... Of course, I love Chelsea, but this was the last year of my contract. At 32, I thought about three more years in London; my family loves London. That’s when I decided to make the move. Honestly, I should have stayed.
However, the reality did not meet expectations. Willian stated that despite his initial excitement, within just three months he realised the move was a mistake due to unfulfilled promises and the internal atmosphere at the club. While the financial terms were the best of his career, money couldn't bring him happiness, preventing him from showcasing his true abilities.
