Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka has revealed he had to talk his wife into accepting his move from Arsenal in the summer.
The Swiss midfielder has been speaking to Blick in his homeland about this season so far as Leverkusen push to win the Bundesliga title.
The 31-year-old made the move from Arsenal in a €15m deal in the summer, bringing an end to a seven year stay with the Gunners that had been up and down.
He finished on a high as they challenged for the title last season and he played a key role under Mikel Arteta, but the decision was made to part ways nonetheless, particularly with Declan Rice arriving in a big money move from West Ham, a signing that would push him down the pecking order.
Reports at the time indicated that Xhaka had decided to leave Arsenal because of his wife’s desire to move on from London and return to Germany, with Leverkusen close to her home town.
The former Arsenal man has denied that, though, and has instead insisted it was him who was pushing to make a change.
“Many accused me of taking a step backwards. But I never saw it that way,” he said.
“I had seven wonderful years in London, but I felt like I needed a new challenge, even though I still had a contract. There were people who were against it, but it was clear to me that I would do it.
“My wife was initially against it. It was written that she was the reason why I wanted to come back to Germany, but that wasn’t the case.
“The football there was world class, the people were great, the city was very beautiful, but as a person and as a player I wanted a new challenge. And I can’t help it if Leverkusen is close to my wife’s hometown.
“Somehow everything just fell into place. Of course, I was also able to convince my wife to come with me, or she almost had to come with me (laughs). But in the end, we decided together.”
