Spartak Moscow man reveals Arsenal made offer for him

Jano Ananidze TEAMtalk

Spartak Moscow’s Jano Ananidze has confirmed the Russian club received an offer from Arsenal for his services.

Attacking midfielder Ananidze though claims he was not informed about the offer by the Russian Super League outfit.

Just when the offer from the Gunners was lodged is unclear, but in 2009 both Arsenal and Liverpool were linked with the player, who was just 17 at the time, via the Daily Mail.

Speaking to Russian outlet Championat, translated by Sport Witness, Ananidze said: “There’s been Interest from other countries. I recently found out that an offer came from Arsenal, but they didn’t even tell me about it. But from those requests that are known, I will highlight Valencia.

“But Spartak decided that I did not leave. Yes, and in 18-19 I decided that I did not want to leave.”

Georgia international Ananidze, now 26, was once dubbed the ‘New Georgi Kinkladze’ but at the time Spartak wanted to keep hold of him and denied a formal offer had been made.

Spartak’s sporting director at the time Dmitri Popov said: “I read the stories.

“The list of clubs did not surprise me, especially the first two: they are built on continually searching for new talent.

“But Spartak haven’t received formal offers and we don’t intend to consider them for the next three or four years.”

Ananidze has gone on to make 136 appearances for Spartak and collected 40 caps for Georgia.

 

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