Nice midfielder Aaron Ramsey says he was all set to re-sign with Arsenal, only for their contract offer to be retracted.
The Wales international told The Telegraph that he was keen on signing an extension at the Emirates Stadium. And, as he entered the final months of a contract with the north Londoners, Ramsey believed that an agreement was close.
But, following the arrival of Unai Emery, the Welshman insisted that a verbal agreement over a new deal was then abruptly retracted, leaving him no choice but to join Juventus.
Ramsey said: "It all happened... I agreed to a contract they proposed.
"Things went quiet for a few weeks. I was telling my agent, 'Let's do it', then all of a sudden the contract was no longer there. So there was nothing to sign or agree.
"It was a difficult start for a few months with Unai," he added. "As the season was going on, I was playing more and playing really well. Then January came and I had to make a decision whether I carried on and saw what happened or whether I agreed somewhere."
"I decided to do that [move] because there was nothing on the table [from Arsenal]."