Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has opened up about his remorse over leaving the club “for a woman” and expresses a wish to “turn the clock back.”
Petit enjoyed a successful three-year tenure at Arsenal after his £2.5 million transfer from Monaco in 1997. He played a pivotal role in the Gunners’ achievement of a double in his debut season, forging a formidable partnership with fellow French international Patrick Vieira.
Having made 118 appearances for Arsenal, Petit departed the club in 2000, joining Barcelona for a reported fee of £7 million, as part of a double transfer alongside Marc Overmars, who moved for £25 million.
When asked why he left Arsenal, Petit told Stadium Astro, ‘For a woman.’
‘I always loved Barcelona and [Real] Madrid, two of the biggest clubs in the world. But I should have stayed with Arsenal, definitely.
‘You know, sometimes the grass is not greener somewhere else. It’s better to stay where you are when you receive love and happiness and you are successful. Why would you leave?
‘Definitely [a big regret]. If I could turn the clock back, I would probably make a different decision.’
Emmanuel Petit tied the knot with French actress Agathe de La Fontaine in 2000 after the couple met in 1998, just before the midfielder contributed to France’s victory in the 1998 FIFA World Cup as the host nation.
La Fontaine, who gained recognition for her role in the Sundance award-winning film “Train of Life” in 1999, was married to Petit for two years before their divorce in 2002. The couple shares a daughter, Zoe.
Following his brief stint with Barcelona, which Petit himself has referred to as “one of the biggest mistakes of his career,” he returned to the Premier League to join Arsenal’s London rivals, Chelsea, for the subsequent season.
Petit spent three seasons at Stamford Bridge before retiring in 2003 due to a persistent knee injury.