Arsenal youth product, Yassin Fortune stated that he turned down a 4-year professional contract offered to him due to his lack of playing time and the introduction Unai Emery.
Speaking to Foot Mercato, he said, “Arsenal offered me a four-year extension. But I wanted to enter into professional football. Arsenal is a great club, but I needed playing time. I had to play, and I preferred to leave. It was difficult to stay at Arsenal in the sense that there were big names and a new manager [Emery].”
“I spoke with Per Mertesacker which made me think very hard. He wanted me to absolutely stay. But I felt again that the best solution was to leave.”
Fortune was born in France and idolised Thierry Henry growing up. He signed with the Gunners in 2015 on a three-year £3m contract, despite being chased by Manchester United. He has represented France at various youth levels and presently plays for Swiss football club, FC Sion.
He further added, “At that moment, I was not yet in contact with Sion, but with other clubs. I was contacted by Sion a couple of weeks after deciding to leave. I wanted to come back to France but despite a few contacts Sion convinced me.”
Fortune even said that he was “forced to leave” Lens for Arsenal. However, the 19-year-old does not regret his decisions and said, “At Arsenal, I learned a lot. You do not refuse Arsenal. Part of me wanted to stay, the other part told me I was lucky. I was between the two.”
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