Benjamin Sesko was close to joining Arsenal, but the club went in a different direction and signed Viktor Gyokeres instead.
Andrea Berta felt Gyokeres was the right fit, viewing the Swede as an immediate answer to Arsenal’s need for a forward.
Even Sesko himself believed he was headed to North London, but after Berta passed on him, he still found his way to England.
The 22-year-old has not hit the ground running at Old Trafford since his £74m move. Now, his agent has offered some insight into how he is coping with life at United.
Benjamin Sesko’s agent comments on Arsenal’s transfer decision
Interestingly, it was Josh Kroenke who pushed for Sesko, but the final call went to Berta, who opted for Gyokeres instead.
That left Sesko with two choices: Newcastle United or Manchester United. He ended up picking the Red Devils.
It has not been an easy start for him at Old Trafford, but he seems ready to take on the challenge.
Speaking to Arena Sport in Slovenia, Elvis Basanovic – Sesko’s agent – shared details from a recent conversation with the striker during his recovery period.
“Right now, while he was injured, he had a bit more free time, so I visited him in Manchester and asked him honestly: how do you see your decision about Manchester United now, when you’ve had a little more time to think about it?” Basanovic questioned.
The agent then revealed what he heard back.
“He said: ‘Elvis, the only thing I would regret, and I would regret it for the rest of my life, would be if I hadn’t chosen Manchester United.’”
The striker is getting close to full fitness now and looks ready to return to action soon.
Gyokeres and Sesko both slow to adapt in England
There were concerns about Sesko from Arsenal’s analytics team, who acknowledged his potential but also saw him as a risk compared to more established options.
Gyokeres, who had netted 97 goals over two seasons for Sporting CP, seemed the safer bet. But the Swede has not lived up to expectations yet following his £64m move.
So far this season, neither striker has made a strong impression in the Premier League, something reflected in their average Sofascore ratings.
Both players are finding it hard to score regularly. For Arsenal, that might be more of an issue than it is for Man United.
The Gunners picked Gyokeres because of his experience and readiness, while United may benefit long-term from Sesko’s development at just 22 years old.
This is shaping up to be an ongoing storyline as both players try to settle into their new clubs.
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