£15.5m ace Arsenal sold had no interest in joining Tottenham

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Matteo Guendouzi ‘only wanted Lazio’ this summer despite interest from Premier League duo Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur in the former Arsenal midfielder. 

The poodle-haired playmaker has a long way to go if he is to emulate the remarkable impact of the dearly-departed Sergej Milinkovic-Savic at the Stadio Olimpico, but he’s certainly made quite the start.

Matteo Guendouzi was outstanding off the bench as Lazio secured a 2-1 statement win over reigning Serie A champions Napoli before the September international break. 

And, according to the Biancocelesti’s new sporting director, a player who fell out of favour under Mikel Arteta had Arsenal only had eyes for Lazio, despite alleged interest from Aston Villa and the Gunners’ arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur. 

Former Arsenal ace Matteo Guendouzi moves to Italy

“The negotiation for Guendouzi was long. We had to find a solution between all the parties,” Angelo Fabiani tells Tuttomercatoweb; Lazio sealing a deal worth up to £15.5 million with Marseille.  

“He too, like the other (new signings), only wanted Lazio.” 

It was Unai Emery who brought Guendouzi to the Emirates Stadium from FC Lorient in 2018. He wasted no time in catapulting an unproven teenager straight into the first-team at Arsenal either.

And, if Emery had got his way, Guendouzi may now be working alongside him again at Aston Villa. 

“The focus for Aston Villa is Guendouzi. Yes, absolutely they want this player,” Fabrizio Romano told his House of Champions podcast at the start of the summer. 

“Unai Emery is in love with this player.” 

Emery ‘in love’ with Guendouzi

There was, according to Get France Football News and The Athletic, further admiration from two of Arsenal’s local neighbours; Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United showing an interest too before shifting their focus to alternative targets. 

Perhaps they had reservations about a player who’s attitude often came into question at the Emirates. Or perhaps they had little appetite attempting to lure a player who’s heart was set on Lazio.