Emmanuel Adebayor has revealed that the first time Arsene Wenger called him to talk about a move to Arsenal, he hung up on him.

• Ade signed for Arsenal in 2006
• Scored 62 in 142 (all comps) for Gunners
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When Adebayor was a Monaco player on his winter break at home in Togo, Wenger apparently called him to tell him he wanted to sign him. Thinking it was a joke, the striker hung up on the Frenchman before Wenger called him back and Adebayor realised this was completely serious.

“I was not getting a lot of playing time at Monaco, it was the winter break so I went back to Togo,” Adebayor explained to Turkish outlet, Tam Saha.

“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.

“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.”

During his three years at Arsenal, Adebayor scored 46 league goals in 104 appearances and soon attracted the attention of Manchester City, where he moved in 2009.

Since then, the 33-year-old has an Arsenal fan hate figure after seemingly doing the most he can to antagonist them at every turn.

He moved for money, stamped on Robin van Persie’s head, celebrated a goal against Arsenal in front of the fans, and signed for Spurs.

For someone who apparently respects Wenger so much, he has a funny way of showing it.

He’s now playing for Turkish side, İstanbul Başakşehir, where he’s scored six goals in seven appearances.