Since summer at the OGC Nice
Aaron Ramsey made a total of 371 appearances for Arsenal from 2008 to 2019 – and is only surpassed by eleven professionals in this regard. After stints at Juventus Turin and Glasgow Rangers, the 31-year-old midfielder now plays for OGC Nice in Ligue 1. Ramsey moved there on a free transfer this summer after his chapter at the Bianconeri ended with a contract termination and a million-dollar settlement.
“The last few seasons have been ups and downs,” said the veteran in an interview with the times and tried to explain why he has now ended up with the French first division club and has long since stopped lacing his football boots for his beloved Arsenal. Coach icon Arsène Wenger left London after 7,942 days in the summer of 2018, under his successor Unai Emery the club’s interest in extending the collaboration with Ramsey beyond 2019 fell noticeably – the Welshman himself would have liked to stay there.
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“I have agreed to a contract offer. Then it was quiet for a few weeks. I said to my agent, ‘Let’s do it’ and suddenly the contract was gone. So there was nothing to sign or agree on,” revealed Ramsey, speaking of a difficult start under Emery. “As the season progressed I played more and more and I played really well. Then January came and I had to make a choice between going ahead and seeing what happens or going somewhere.”
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According to reports, the offer from the “Gunners” was far away from the £400,000 per week submitted from Turin. However, Ramsey made it clear: “I decided to make this move because there was no offer.” From Arsenal. He couldn’t explain why everything turned out the way it did. There have been a lot of changes under Emery. “I don’t understand, I still don’t know what exactly happened. I have no bad words or feelings towards Arsenal. They are still an important part of my life and I still follow them and am happy that they are doing so well. I’ve always loved Arsenal, that will never change.”
For Ramsey, the “exciting” move to Juventus was tantamount to an opportunity “to get out of my comfort zone after being at one club for so long,” according to the right-footer, whose highest market value was €45m in May 2018. The fact that things did not go particularly well for him at Juventus – and also for his family in the new home – despite anticipation and expectations was mainly due to the restrictions during the onset of the corona pandemic.
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“I didn’t know the language. I saw the news, but couldn’t understand a lot. We talk about stability and foundations, but there was Covid, a lot of changes,” stressed Ramsey, who would have liked the club to have a tailored training program to get the fitness he needed. “The players must be managed individually, not collectively. From a physical point of view it was difficult at times and I wasn’t able to get the consistency I needed.”
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Lacking prospects, Ramsey joined Rangers on loan for the 2021/22 return series when he missed his penalty as a substitute in the 118th minute in the Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt. The lead that was gained as a result brought the SGE to the finish line. Ramsey hit the reset button in the summer and moved on to Nice. Sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford and OGC investor Ineos had the right arguments on their side. “There were many factors. Ineos’ vision and the way they envision the club developing over the next few years, I want to be a part of it. They want to take this club to the next level,” Ramsey said of the new challenge.
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