Arsene Wenger will be well-versed in the talents of France international Djibril Sidibe but he may not get the chance to see them first-hand.
Monaco right-back Djibril Sidibe has admitted to L’Equipe that he may plans to stay in the Principality for the foreseeable future despite previous links with the Premier League.
The 24-year-old, billed as Bacary Sagna’s long term successor in the French national team, admitted to Le Parisien that he turned down interest from Arsenal in the summer due to a prospective lack of playing time with Hector Bellerin (below) establishing himself as the undisputed first-choice at the Emirates, as reported by Sky Sports.
And Sidibe’s decision to join Monaco instead from fellow Ligue 1 outfit Lille appears to have been vindicated with the four-time France international cementing his position in Leonardo Jardim’s side, albeit in an unfamiliar left-back role with the experienced Andrea Raggi (below) retaining his position on the right.
Consequently, Sidibe is happy to remain with 2004 Champions League runners-up, although he admits that the temptation to move to the Premier League may at some point prove too strong.
“I have always said that the Premier League made me dream, as it does for many players,” the versatile defender, who helped Monaco to a 2-1 win against Arsenal’s North London rivals Tottenham in the Champions League, told L’Equipe. “But this question [of leaving for England] does not arise today.”
“I am very happy in Monaco and I could stay for several years.”
As speculation continues to link Bellerin to a return to Barcelona or a switch to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, Sidibe’s name could become a gossip column ever-present in the coming months regardless of his own ambitions.
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