‘I chose Arsenal as Man City refused to give me a flat after Patrick Vieira talks’

Ismael Bennacer was wanted by Manchester City before joining Arsenal as a teenager but turned the Citizens down as he didn’t want to live in the club’s on-site accommodation

A former Arsenal youngster chose to join the Gunners after Manchester City refused to provide him with a flat. After impressing at boyhood club Arles in France, Ismael Bennacer was in demand.

Two of England’s biggest clubs, who lock horns in the Premier League on Sunday, were chasing his signature. The opportunity to link up with the Citizens came first for the Algerian.

But he has since confessed that a switch to the blue half of Manchester didn’t appeal for several reasons. Speaking to Instant Foot in 2024, the AC Milan midfielder, who is currently on loan at Dinamo Zagreb, explained: “[City] called me and told me, ‘We want you to be with the reserves,’ and everything.

“It’s City, man. I was ready. They told me, ‘Come see the facilities,’ so I did. I got there, I don’t know, I wasn’t feeling it.”

Despite turning down City, Bennacer confessed he was blown away by the club’s outstanding academy facilities and recalled his chat with Gunners icon Patrick Vieira, who was leading City’s academy at the time.

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The midfielder said: “Their facilities were crazy. Amazing. I spoke with Vieira and everything.” But while he was impressed by the club’s infrastructure, their unwillingness to arrange accommodation for him and his sister ultimately scuppered any potential deal.

He explained: “I liked the talk we had, but the fact they wanted me at the academy, to sleep there… I wanted a flat. I wanted my sister to come with me. That’s why I dropped City. Then there was Arsenal towards the end of July.”

The now 27-year-old only made one appearance for Arsenal before being loaned out to French side Tours in 2017. Six months later, he moved permanently to Empoli, where he became a key player, winning the Serie B title in his first season.

His standout performances caught the attention of Milan in 2019 and they reportedly paid £14million for him. He won another title with the Rossoneri in 2022, as the Italian giants clinched the Scudetto for the first time since 2011.

Internationally, Bennacer has been an essential part of the Algerian team since his senior debut in 2016. His crowning moment came in 2019 when Algeria won the Africa Cup of Nations, with Bennacer being named Player of the Tournament.

As for Arsenal and City, they meet in an early albeit equally important title contenders clash at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon. The hosts can open up a six-point gap on Pep Guardiola’s side with a victory.

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