New Lille signing Joe Cole has revealed that he had the chance to stay in the Premier League, but rejected offers from Tottenham, QPR and Aston Villa to complete his move to France.
Cole arrived at Lille on a season long loan deal from Liverpool yesterday, after failing to make an impact at Anfield since his transfer from Chelsea last summer.
“I had offers in England,” admitted Cole. “I know Lille play well, they are a club with a great pedigree and it’s really exciting to have a chance to play in the Champions League again.
“I’ve always wanted to play abroad. I’m glad the move has been completed and I’m looking forward to a different challenge.
It was also clear that, although only completing a loan move to Lille, Cole harbours no hope of returning to Anfield to play for Liverpool, and is instead concentrating on moving on with his career.
He said: “I admit it hurt me that it did not work out at Liverpool. I am a winner, and it will stay with me that I didn’t have a successful time at the club.
“But I can’t look back, I have to move on and this is a perfect challenge.
“The support I received from everyone at Liverpool was great but things just didn’t work out as I hoped.”
Cole made just nine Premier League starts for the Reds last season, scoring two goals.
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