Striker: Why I had to get myself out of Juventus amid Arsenal and Man Utd interest

Fernando Llorente has scored just once for Sevilla this season

FERNANDO LLORENTE says he quit Juventus at the right time - and that Sevilla was the best option for him in the transfer window.

 

Spain striker Llorente was sold to the Liga club just days before the deadline, despite reported interest from Premier League clubs.

Both Manchester United and Arsenal were tipped to make a bargain offer for the 30-year-old as Juventus looked to sell.

 

But Llorente opted to switch to Sevilla in a £7.2million deal - and says he has no regrets.

“Given the numerous signings that were made I knew that I would have limited opportunities," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

 

"I knew that Juventus wouldn’t have been upset if I left, and when the chance to play in the Champions League with Sevilla arose, let’s just say that it wrapped everything together nicely.

"We were all happy, but it was still upsetting to leave.”

Juventus signed strikers Paulo Dybala, Simone Zaza and Mario Mandzukic in the transfer window - limiting Llorente to opportunities.

Arsenal were reported favourites to land him after their efforts to sign Karim Benzema from Real Madrid failed.

 

United were also reportedly keen on the striker but neither side made a formal bid.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger ended the transfer window without having signed an outfield player, while Louis van Gaal went all in with a £36m swoop for Monaco's Anthony Martial.

 

Llorente played in the Champions League final with Juventus last season

Sevilla captured the ace after reluctantly selling Carlos Bacca - the match winner in their Europa League final triumph last season - to Milan.

He has scored just once for his new club and said: “We have different goals (from Juventus).

"We aren’t looking to win La Liga as we want to qualify for the Champions League, but that has been complicated."