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Former Harambee Stars midfielder Wanyama has opened up on how the former Arsenal striker lured him away from the Gunners’ North London rivals Tottenham.
Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has revealed how Arsenal legend Thierry Henry lured him to MLS side CF Montreal from Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.
Wanyama, who played for Tottenham between 2016 and 2020, had a great spell in his first three years at the club before he fell down the pecking order in his final season and the North London club received offers for him as he weighed up his options.
However, having turned down moves to a host of European clubs, including a reported £13 million offer from Belgian giants Club Brugge, Wanyama was swayed by a conversation with Henry, who had become the Montreal coach in November 2019.
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05:00 - 22.11.2024
Victor Wanyama reveals ambitions to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo after parting ways with CF Montreal
Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama is not ruling out the option of turning out alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi after ending his five-year stay at CF Montreal.
Henry was keen to make a success of his second coaching job, after seeing his first one end in disaster at French club Monaco, and wanted experienced heads to help him drive Montreal forward. His standing in the game and vision were enough to lure Wanyama to the MLS.
“Thierry Henry convinced me to come to Montreal even though I had played so much in Europe but I knew the coach of his calibre and I said why not,” Wanyama revealed on The Sick Podcast.
“I joined him with a different view because he had a dream of making the team better, making them a playoff team and always playing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup more regularly and so I bought into his idea and joined the club,” added the midfielder.
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18:16 - 04.11.2024
Former Harambee Stars boss Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee on why many Kenyan footballers struggle when they move abroad
Jacob Ghost Mulee has explained why many Kenyan footballers struggle when they move abroad, further explaining why Victor Wanyama is a rare success.
Wanyama would switch to Montreal in March 2020, becoming the club’s Designated Player, and had a one-year stint with Henry as they secured a playoff berth for the first time in four years.
However, Arsenal’s all-time top scorer quit Montreal in February 2021, citing the need to be close to his family after COVID-19 restrictions had made travel difficult.
While he enjoyed playing under Henry, Wanyama says it was not easy to cope with the high demands set by the former striker.
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08:02 - 23.11.2024
Victor Wanyama pays tribute to CF Montreal fans as he bids them farewell after ending five-year stay
Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama has hailed CF Montreal supporters for standing with him during his five-year stay as he leaves following the end of his deal.
“He knows the standards, he has been there and he wants to keep the standards high and so for some players, it was not easy to do but for him it was easy. As for me, I looked at it as a way to improve and also a way to learn from him. I loved that side of him,” he added.
Wanyama ended his near five-year stay at Montreal this month after his contract expired, having managed 133 appearances while scoring six goals across all competitions.
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