Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny had plans to leave the Gunners over the Summer along with Arsene Wenger, however, the torn Achilles ligament injury in the Europa League semi-final changed the entire situation, as per his agent.
The 32-year-old was stretchered off in pain following the injury during Arsenal’s defeat against Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final tie. The injury cost him a place in France’s World Cup team but as indicated by his agent, the suffering likewise stopped the defender from moving elsewhere from London.
As per the player’s agent, Stephane Courbis, a few Ligue 1 clubs were interested in Koscielny with Lyon, Monaco and Marseille all making proposals alongside some rich offers from Chinese sides. But having been declared a half year out of the game in may following the damage it finished any considerations of leaving the Emirates.
Addressing France Football, Koscielny’s agent Stephane Courbis talked about the injury and stated: “When he banged the floor with his hand, I immediately knew that it was serious, that it was over.
“Everything at that moment went through my mind, including the worst, which was validated when it emerged that it was an Achilles rupture and that he would miss the World Cup. Laurent was perhaps playing the final matches of his Arsenal career.
“He started thinking about a possible departure from Arsenal at the same time as Arsene Wenger. It was the right moment, the final moment to leave with the arrival of the new manager. I had already anticipated this, with two or three offers that were starting to make us think.
“We were open to different options, China as much as France. He could not see himself playing for another English team other than Arsenal. Since the approach from Marseille least season, the notion of returning to Ligue 1 entered his thinking. It was a genuine possibility.”
The 33-year-old defender however now has recently suggested dissing all such talks that he is now planning to continue at Arsenal till the contracts end which is until 2020. Koscielny as of late has begun light training again following his injury and is looking to begin full preparing again in November with a view to coming back to full action around the turn of the year.
Koscielny has been with the North London club for the last eight years and has registered his name as one of the hardest centre-halves in the English Premier League since moving to the Emirates in the Summer of 2010 from French club Lorient.
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