‘Arsenal was the beginning of my life’ – Adebayor reveals how Wenger managed to transfer him in just two days
Emmanuel Adebayor has hit the ground running in Turkey scoring seven goals in 10 appearances for title challengers Basaksehir.
Adebayor has been in great form in the Turkish league but he has not forgotten his roots, in particular his stint at Arsenal.
The powerful striker revealed that Arsenal was the beginning on his life in his latest interview with Tam Saha.
The Turkish football magazine quizzed Adebayor on his time at Arsenal, the club he credits with taking his career to the highest level.
“Arsenal was the beginning of my life, I see my transfer to Arsenal as when my life really starting,” Adebayor said.
Adebayor revealed that he was playing a game of football among friends in Togo when he was interrupted by a phone call from Wenger.
The striker stated that he agreed to join Arsenal over the phone and that the transfer was completed in just two days.
“I was not getting a lot of playing time at Monaco, it was the winter break so I went back to Togo.
“I was playing a game of football with some friends when one of my friends ran over with a phone.
“He told me it was Arsene Wenger, I thought he was playing a joke on me.
“I took the phone and hung up.
Adebayor > Giroud + Lucas Perez
7 goals in 10 games for the former Arsenal man pic.twitter.com/xpehLLPvZg— Turkish Football (@Turkish_Futbol1) May 1, 2017
“Wenger immediately called back and said, I recognised his voice it was him. How could you not recognise it, he was everywhere on television and was so well respected for what he had achieved at Arsenal.
“He told me that he wanted me at Arsenal, I told him, ‘If you want me I will jump on the first flight to London and sign on the dotted line’.
“In just two days I signed for Arsenal, I could not believe it.”
Adebayor ended up scoring 63 times in 138 games for the North London outfit.
After stints at Tottenham, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Crystal Palace, Adebayor joined Turkish league minnows Basaksehir in January.
Basaksehir are currently second in the league, just four points behind leaders Besiktas who they beat 3-1 on Sunday.