Arsenal were close to signing Nuri Sahin in 2012, but apparently the Gunners also made a tempting offer back in 2005, according to NTV Spor.
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The Turkish midfielder has been lighting up the Bundesliga once again after a spell away from the German top flight, but things could have been very different if he accepted an offer from Arsenal a decade ago.
“After my performance in the U-17 European Championship Arsenal made a very attractive offer,” he said.
“However, my mum, dad and older brother thought I was too young and wanted me to stay.
“I ended up staying but it was enough to get the attention of Dortmund who gave me a professional contract and started playing me from a young age.”
Sahin spent a brief spell with La Liga giants Real Madrid, but was not a huge success at the Santiago Bernabeu. He was shipped out on loan to Arsenal’s Premier League rivals Liverpool, but he didn’t fare much better at Anfield.
The 26-year-old eventually made the move back to the Bundesliga, where he has been far more successful with Borussia Dortmund.
He seems far better suited to playing in Germany rather than the Premier League, and looks unlikely to try his hand in the English top flight again anytime soon.
The midfielder is currently being recognised as one of the best in his position however, and will no doubt be attracting the attention of other clubs sooner rather than later.
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