Former Premier League striker Wilfried Bony has revealed how his dream move to Arsenal was personally vetoed by legendary manager Arsene Wenger, forcing a switch to Manchester City instead.
The January 2015 Transfer Tug-of-War
In an exclusive interview, the ex-Ivory Coast international detailed the frantic transfer window at the start of 2015. Following a prolific 2014 where he scored 20 Premier League goals for Swansea City, becoming the calendar year's top scorer, Bony attracted serious interest.
'There were three clubs interested in signing me after my first season at Swansea: Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City,' Bony stated. His heart was set on a move to North London to play under Wenger at the Emirates Stadium.
However, the move collapsed when Manchester City presented a monumental financial package. The Etihad club offered a reported £100,000-a-week salary as part of a £25 million transfer, with £3m in add-ons – a deal that made Bony the most expensive African footballer in history at the time.
Wenger's Wage Worries and a Hotel Meeting
Bony explained that Arsenal's iconic French manager baulked at the figures involved. 'When Arsene Wenger heard about the salary, he said, “That’s too big for us! That’s too big for us!”', Bony recalled.
Determined to make the move happen, the striker even arranged a face-to-face meeting with Wenger. 'I wanted to join Arsenal, so I met him again in Swansea when we were playing against them. I spoke to him in the Marriott hotel, and again Wenger said that the salary would be too much for them.'
With his path to Arsenal blocked, and with Swansea keen to sell, Bony's move to Manchester City was finalised while he was on international duty in Abu Dhabi preparing for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
A Move Marred by Fatigue and Injury
Bony admits his City career never took off as planned, citing immense physical and mental fatigue. 'I only regret one thing: When I returned from the AFCON, I was tired... I was cooked,' he said, referencing the 42°C heat in Equatorial Guinea where Ivory Coast won the tournament.
He returned to a Manchester winter with temperatures below 10°C and an immediate fixture pile-up against Newcastle and Barcelona. 'In 18 months, I was fit for just three months because I kept getting injured,' Bony revealed.
Playing second-fiddle to Sergio Aguero, he managed only 10 goals in 46 appearances for City, though he did win a League Cup medal in 2016. By the summer of that year, he was loaned to Stoke City before eventually returning to Swansea.
Guardiola's Arrival and Career Wind-Down
Contrary to popular belief, Bony claims he was not forced out when Pep Guardiola arrived as manager in 2016. 'We had good conversations. He liked me in training... He actually said to me that if I wanted to, I could stay,' Bony explained.
However, knowing he needed regular football, Bony chose to leave. His career later took him to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands and Bolivia before he retired in 2023 at the age of 37.
Reflecting on the sliding doors moment of his career, the story remains a compelling 'what if' tale of transfer politics, wage structures, and the physical demands of top-level football.
