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Williams has thrived for Athletic Bilbao in recent seasons and enjoyed a breakout tournament in Germany, starring in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory and scoring in the final against England.
Despite emerging as a target for some of the biggest clubs in Europe, Bilbao were able to keep hold of Williams for the time being, though he continues to be linked with a move to Barcelona.
Petit believes Gunners manager Arteta was ‘dreaming’ of bringing Williams to the Emirates Stadium and says he then turned to England international Sterling in a ‘panic’ once he realised his first-choice target would not be joining.
Sterling completed a shock move from Chelsea to Arsenal on transfer deadline day after being banished by new Stamford Bridge boss Enzo Maresca.
The 29-year-old won four Premier League titles at Manchester City but had been less effective at Chelsea and has endured a slow start to his Arsenal career.
‘Raheem Sterling was a panic buy,’ ex-Arsenal midfielder Petit told Instant Casino.
‘For me, Mikel Arteta knows that he’s missing players, numbers in his squad, quality players in terms of rotation.
‘He knows that, so at the end of the transfer market during the summer, he knew that he had no choice just to get Sterling because he didn’t want to put the big money on the table for other players.
‘I know that he was dreaming about Nico Williams, but he will never come to the Premier League. He will stay in Spain; he will go to Barcelona. Definitely.
‘Sterling has been living a nightmare for years now. I think Sterling is probably one of the best examples of what life in the Premier League can do to a player that has tastes success after success after success.
‘When you receive so much money for years and you win a lot of trophies, you’re not starving anymore. You lose your passion; you lose your priorities sometimes and you’re enjoying your life.
‘I wonder if …
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