Manchester United midfielder Daley Blind says Arsenal wanted to sign him when he was at Ajax almost a decade ago.
The 25-year-old was one of the many signings made by Louis van Gaal last summer but he revealed that he could have featured earlier in the English Premier League after spending a day in North London at the age of 16.
"I had the chance to move to London at a young age," he told Mirror.
"I was in the Ajax academy and one day I came home from school.
"My mum and dad said to me: 'Arsenal have called today. They want you.'
"I thought they were taking the mickey. It was my dream to be a player in the first team of Ajax but we went to Arsenal.
"We were there for a day. It was great. They offered to sort out everything for my schooling, so I could get my A levels.
"They also offered me an incredible contract, especially for a boy of my age. Ajax offered me a contract too at the same time.
"The money was nowhere near what I could earn at Arsenal. My dad left it up to me and I decided to stay at Ajax."
