Lucas Perez has thanked Arsenal for their understanding in allowing him to return to his former club Deportivo La Coruna.
Having rejected similar bids earlier in the transfer window Arsenal agreed to a deadline day loan deal with Deportivo that will see Lucas rejoin the club on a year’s loan.
The deal does not include any obligation for Deportivo to buy Lucas at the end of the season, though Arsenal had wanted to sell the 28-year-old permanently after he made clear his desire to move. The Galicians will, however, pay a loan fee understood to be around £3.7million.
Newcastle and Everton had also expressed an interest in acquiring Lucas, the latter in a permanent deal, as had Turkish giants Fenerbahce. But as Standard Sport reported throughout the summer the Galicia native only wanted to return to Deportivo, who he left a year ago in a £17m deal.
“I'm where I want to be,” Perez said. “I have a right to decide what is going to happen with my future and what I want to do.
“Arsenal understood that and I'm grateful to them. They understood my situation and the fact that I wanted to return home.”
“Arsenal defended their own interests, they initially didn't want me to return to Deportivo.
“They have reached agreements with many clubs but I clearly told them that my intention was to join Depor and no other alternative.”
