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| Emmanuel Petit regrets turning down Manchester United move |
FORMER Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has admitted he still regrets his decision to join Chelsea over Manchester United in 2001.
The retired Frenchman spent three years at Arsenal - winning the Premier League and FA Cup - before leaving for Barcelona in 2000 in a £7million deal.
The 44-year-old opted to return to England after just one season in Spain, moving to Chelsea for £7.5m despite attracting interest from Old Trafford.
And while Petit regrets leaving the Gunners in the first place, he also rues the day he snubbed Sir Alex Ferguson at United for the sake of living in London.
Petit revealed in his new book Franc-tireur (Maverick): "I made a lifestyle choice to the detriment of the sporting choice.
"And on the rare occasions that I've made that choice, I've got it wrong. It was the same thing when I left Barcelona to go back to Chelsea.
"I gave priority to the social life in London when [Sir Alex] Ferguson expected me to sign for Manchester United.
"My wife didn't want to go to Manchester. I'm really annoyed at myself - I should have insisted upon my decision."
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