Borussia Dortmund midfielder Nuri Sahin has revealed that he had the opportunity to join Arsenal in 2005 – but his family persuaded him to snub Arsene Wenger's overtures.
At the time Sahin was a young midfielder working hard to make the breakthrough at Dortmund and Arsenal came calling with what the former Real Madrid man dubbed a "great offer".
But his family proved instrumental in persuading him that Dortmund remained the best place for his development and they found someone who had already reached the same conclusion in Sahin.
Sahin explained to NTV Spor: "In 2005, I had the chance to go to England.
"Arsenal wanted me and made a great offer.
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"But my family did not want me to go to England. They knew that Dortmund would grow again and were going to be a big club.
"I am grateful to them. After the bid, Dortmund realised I was a valuable player.
"The season thereafter Bert van Marwijk put me in the first team. At that time I was only 16."
Sahin did eventually play football in England when he moved on loan from Real Madrid to Liverpool in the summer of 2012.
However, the Turkey international was often played out of position by Reds manager Brendan Rodgers and struggled to make his mark.
The deal was terminated early in January 2013, allowing Sahin to link up with former club Dortmund on loan. The switch was made permanent last year.
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