Midfielder claims Spartak kept Arsenal offer secret from him

Jano Ananidze has claimed Spartak Moscow kept an approach from Premier League side Arsenal a secret from him.

The attacking midfielder was labeled the ‘New Georgi Kinkladze’ at the age of 17 when he was linked with a move to the Premier League side in 2009.

Although Ananidze, now 26, didn’t say when the offer for him was received, but Spartak were keen to keep hold of him at the time.

“There’s been Interest from other countries,” Ananidze was quoted in Championat via Sport Witness. “I recently found out that an offer came from Arsenal, but they didn’t even tell me about it.

“But from those requests that are known, I will highlight Valencia. But Spartak decided that I did not leave. Yes, and in 18-19 I decided that I did not want to leave.”

Liverpool, Sevilla, Juventus and AC Milan were thought to be amongst the clubs interested when he was making his name for himself as a youngster at the Russian Super League outfit.

Ananidze, who is currently on loan at Krylia Sovetov Samara, has played over 100 times in the league for Spartak Moscow, while he has 48 caps for Georgia.