Melo confirms Arsenal made an offer when he was at Fiorentina [divider]

Galatasaray midfielder Felipe Melo revealed that he received an offer from Arsenal while playing for Fiorentina in 2009.

“Arsenal wanted me to come in 2009 when I was at Fiorentina. Juve paid nearly 25 million euros to pay my release clause and I signed there,” Melo told Sambafoot.

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Melo joined Juventus instead but struggled to settle in and joined Galatasaray on a permanent deal worth £3 million last summer after playing the previous two seasons on loan at the Lions.

The Brazilian midfielder has won two Süper Lig titles and two Turkish Cups since arriving in Turkey.

Melo has one goal in 24 appearances for the Lions in all competitions this season.

The 31-year-old has a total of 17 goals and and 11 assists in 147 appearances in all competitions for Galatasaray since arriving from Italy.

Melo also has 22 international caps for Brazil but has not featured for the Selecao since the 2010 World Cup quater-final against the Netherlands.

Melo provided the assist for Robinho’s 10th minute opener in the quarter-final but was later sent off by referee Yuichi Nishimura in the 73rd minute for a violent stamp on Dutch winger Arjen Robben.