Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud says a move to Olympique Marseille was never a serious consideration this summer.

Giroud admits a return to France wasn't on his agenda.

He told Telefoot: "I did not refuse Marseille. I just told the coach (Rudi Garcia) when I got him on the phone ... Actually I got him on the phone once it was released in the press.

"After a while he wanted to know if I was interested or not by the project of Olympique de Marseille. I always said that it was not an option for me to return to France, at least not in the near future. So it was not in relation to Olympique de Marseille, since the project is very ambitious and very interesting. But it was not for me...

"Returning to France was never an option. So here it was not personally compared to Marseille because there was also Lyon. Although I am very flattered to have been courted by these two great French clubs."