Donis Avdijaj has claimed he received a number of offers from top clubs, including Arsenal, before he signed for Schalke.

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - DECEMBER 08:  Donis Avdijaj of Schalke runs with the ball during the UEFA Europa League match between FC Salzburg and FC Schalke 04 at Red Bull Arena on December 8, 2016 in Salzburg, Austria.  (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
SALZBURG, AUSTRIA – DECEMBER 08: Donis Avdijaj of Schalke runs with the ball during the UEFA Europa League match between FC Salzburg and FC Schalke 04 at Red Bull Arena on December 8, 2016 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)

22-year-old left winger Donis Avdijaj now plays for Willem II Tilburg after he left Schalke on a free transfer during the summer.

Four goals and three assists in 13 games means he isn’t exactly tearing up trees in the Eredivisie this season and with a transfer window fast approaching, perhaps he’s feeling pangs of regret that he turned down so many significant offers.

“At that time [after signing his first contract with Schalke] Everybody wanted to be my friend”, Avdijaj told Goal. “Everyone wanted to tell me what was the best for me, so I did not have a manager and I did not know exactly how to deal with the crowds.

“In my youth, I made more than twenty goals every season, I also scored thirteen times in the national youth team in thirteen games and I thought I would continue as a professional in this way.”

“When I was fifteen or sixteen years old, I could not classify that pat on the back, especially because the big clubs were already trying to capture me and offered me millions.

“Not going crazy at such a time is much harder than going crazy. Before I signed for Schalke, I had offers from Juventus, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool, regardless of which match or tournament, scouts were always there to watch me.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjuNdAWzZi8

In total, Avdijaj scored 59 goals (with 15 assists) in 53 games for Schalke, a phenomenal return for a winger.

He has seven goals and six assists in 15 games with Willem so far since his summer move so perhaps I was a little cruel on him earlier.

At this point, however, there is no hint that Arsenal, Manchester United or Liverpool are still interested in signing him.

That ship, it seems, has sailed.