Arsene Wenger says Serge Gnabry left Arsenal because Bayern Munich “manipulated behind the scenes” in order to get their man.
The 24-year-old made his Gunners breakthrough in 2012 but after struggling to command a regular berth – and a loan spell with West Brom – joined Werder Bremen in 2016.
An impressive season which yielded 11 goals from 27 appearances brought him to Bayern’s attention and the Germany international is now tearing it up for the Bundesliga champions.
Gnabry made the headlines recently as he bludgeoned four past Tottenham in the Champions League as Bayern won 7-2 in their last group stage match.
“We tried to extend his contract for a very long time and I think that Bayern manipulated behind the scenes, that if he went to Bremen he would join Bayern after,” Wenger told beIN SPORTS.
“He was always a very talented boy who lacked confidence in some stages, but we always thought we had a player who could achieve a lot.
“He came back from a very bad experience [on loan] at West Brom where his confidence was destroyed. I tried to rebuild him because I believed in him.”
On Bayern’s win at Tottenham, Wenger added: “They’d just won 3-0 at Paderborn, you wouldn’t expect them to come and put seven goals away at Tottenham.
“I think it was one of those nights where everything goes for you and everything against Tottenham.”
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