Returning to European football in the summer, Gervinho has enjoyed a successful season so far with Parma in Serie A, scoring nine goals and picking up two assists in 20 league appearances.
Signed on a free transfer, the former Arsenal forward made a comeback in the league he had left in 2016 from Roma in exchange for £16.2m, heading to richer pastures with Hebei China Fortune.
Before all of this, however, Gervinho spent two seasons with the Gunners under Arsène Wenger, where he scored 11 goals and picked up 12 assists in 63 games.
Speaking to So Foot about his newfound form in Italy, the Ivory Coast international spoke about his move from Lille to Arsenal, and what it meant to him.
He said: “To be approached by Arsenal, that doesn’t happen to everyone. For me, it was my dream as a kid. I didn’t cry when Arsenal’s offer came, but maybe my heart shed a few tears. One day, I was in a restaurant, and I was told that Dick Law was trying to contact me.
“He sent me Wenger’s number, and if Arsène wanted to speak to me, it wasn’t to ask me how things we’re going. At that point, I told Lille that I didn’t want to negotiate with anyone else other than Arsenal, but Rudi Garcia didn’t want to sell me.”
At this point, the winger told his former manager that had it only been other French clubs who were interested, he wouldn’t have left, but because this was Arsenal, he asked him to let this happen.
The pair, who have remained close throughout their respective careers, teamed up once again at Roma after Gervinho’s time in England.
