Former Anzhi Makhachkala midfielder Odil Ahmedov admits he could have joined Premier League giants Arsenal during Arsene Wenger’s time in charge of the Emirates Stadium outfit, speaking to Russian publication Sport24.
Remember when a hitherto little-known team from Dagestan threatened to take European football by storm?
When the likes of Roberto Carlos, Yuri Zhirkov, Christopher Samba Samuel Eto’o, Lassana Diarra and even Willian signed on the dotted line, lured to Anzhi Arena by billionaire owner Suleyman Kerimov with the aim of transforming a team under the management of Guus Hiddink into Russia’s very own Manchester City; challenging the established elite and shattering the glass ceiling with a jewel-encrusted hammer.
Well, the journey didn’t last long.
Anzhi went from third to 16th in the space of a year, relegated in disastrous fashion as those big-name acquisitions leaped into the life boats. Ahmedov left for Krasnodar at the end of that ill-fated 2013/14 campaign, following Samba, Willian, Eto’o and co out the door.
By then, the Arsenal ship had well and truly sailed.
Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal could have signed Odil Ahmedov
“There really was an interest in me from Arsenal,” Ahmedov recalls. “Anzhi refused (to sell). The Dagestan club then had high goals, and I was a player in the main squad. But I never regret anything. God then wanted me to stay at Anzhi.”
Speaking to Izvestia back in 2013, Ahmedov admitted; “It is true I have interest from Arsenal. Their scouts have watched me in every match this season.”
“If I move there, I could be a huge success. Of course, I am happy at Anzhi, but I’d like to try England or Spain.”
Ahmedov was valued at around £6 million at the time (Standard). The now-34-year-old – capped 108 times and a six-time Uzbekistan Player of the Year – would never again reach the heights of 2013.
He spent five seasons in China before announcing his retirement 10 months ago. Oh what could have been.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
