AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud says he was so desperate for regular playing time that he was considering move to Tottenham.
The former Arsenal and Chelsea striker held a press conference today to unveil his biography ‘Always Believe’ translated in Italian. Giroud signed for AC Milan in 2021 and played an important role in their title winning campaign. Things could have been different however and he could have moved to Inter or Lazio in 2020.
The Frenchman in his press conference (via Football Italia) revealed:
“At that time, I was not getting regular playing time at Chelsea, I was the third-choice striker, so I tried to find a solution with Frank Lampard.
I couldn’t remain in that situation. I wanted to leave, but Lampard told me that he needed a replacement. He promised me that I would have had more chances and gave me the opportunity to do so, I think I scored eight goals in the final ten games of the season, thank God we qualified for the Champions League.
At that time, Italian clubs were very interested. At one point, Inter told me that they no longer had money to sign me. I had done everything to leave, I also met Lazio’s sporting director Igli Tare, a gentleman, he came to Heathrow airport just to meet me.
I was so desperate to leave that I even told Lampard that I’d have joined Tottenham because I knew that José Mourinho wanted me. In the end, I think it would have been difficult because I had played for Arsenal. Destiny wanted me to be here, wearing the Rossoneri shirt.”
Imagine the uproar amongst Arsenal supporters had he actually signed for us back then. Playing for Chelsea was one thing, but to play against your main North London rivals would have just been a mockery!