Uzbekistan midfielder Ahmedov reveals failed Arsenal transfer

Shanghai SIPG midfielder Odil Ahmedov has revealed that he still regrets the day that he was unable to complete a move to Arsenal.

Back in 2012, the Uzbekistan captain was close to sealing a permanent transfer to the Gunners from Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala during the summer window.

However, the move was halted by the Dagestan club's billionaire owner Suleyman Kerimov.

"It's true that Arsene Wenger wanted me to play for him," Ahmedov told Shanghai-based newspaper Xinmin Evening News.

"However, Anzhi spent a huge amount of money at that time and our boss [Suleyman Kerimov] had no intention of selling me to make money."

The 30-year-old, who beat Samuel Eto’o and Roberto Carlos to the Anzhi Player of the Year award in 2011 before making the switch to Krasnodar in June 2014, insists that while he remains disappointed the move to London did not materialise, he accepts Kerimov's decision.

"He had a burning ambition to win the championships, so I understand his decision to halt the transfer."

Ahmedov joined Shanghai SIPG in December 2016 and proved instrumental in helping the CSL side finish second behind Guangzhou Evergrande last season.