Emmanuel Petit has candidly shared his regret over leaving Arsenal to join Barcelon, describing the decision as one of the biggest mistakes of his football career.
Petit joined Arsenal in 1997, reuniting with his former Monaco coach Arsène Wenger. He quickly became a beloved figure at Highbury, contributing significantly to the club’s Premier League and FA Cup double during his debut season. After three highly successful years with Arsenal, Petit and teammate Marc Overmars transferred to Barcelona in a £7 million deal.
This move came shortly after Petit’s triumphs with the French national team, including winning the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000. However, his time in Barcelona was far from ideal. He struggled to establish himself in the team, battled injuries, and was unable to secure a regular starting position. As a result, his stint at the Catalan club lasted just one season.
Looking back, Petit expressed profound regret about his decision to leave Arsenal. Reflecting on Philippe Coutinho’s challenging time at Barcelona, he compared their experiences, saying, “If I were Philippe Coutinho, I’d wake up every morning and ask myself, ‘Why did I go to Barcelona?’”
In an interview with Mirror Football, Petit revealed that he had similar thoughts after leaving Arsenal. “I remember waking up in Barcelona, thinking, ‘Why did I leave? Why did I leave?’” he said. Petit believes Coutinho has likely questioned his decision in the same way.
After his brief and underwhelming time at Barcelona, Petit moved to Chelsea, where he concluded his professional career. Initially, his transition to the West London club appeared promising, but recurring knee injuries hindered his performances. These injuries, coupled with the management of then-coach Claudio Ranieri, led to his release in 2004.
In later interviews, Petit did not hide his disappointment with how his Chelsea career ended. Speaking to SFR Sport’s The Locker Room, he criticized the club’s medical staff and the treatment he received from then-owner Roman Abramovich. “I really didn’t like how things ended, with the medical staff and the president at Chelsea. I was disgusted. That’s why I left and didn’t communicate with them afterward,” Petit explained.
He also revealed that despite his knee problems, he concealed the severity of his injuries because of his desire to continue playing. “My performances were affected because my knee was in bad shape, but I kept it hidden. I still had the desire to play,” he said. Petit’s journey serves as a cautionary tale about the challenges of transitioning between clubs and the impact of career decisions.