AC Milan 17-year-old Emil Roback claims Arsenal agreed a deal to sign him this summer, but he decided to move to Italy instead.

AC Milan signed Emil Roback from Hammarby last month, but the player claims he also had the option to join Arsenal.

In fact, Arsenal even agreed a deal with Hammarby for the teenager, and he was ‘set’ on the move at one stage. But eventually, he changed his mind and joined the Serie A side instead.

“I kept saying that I was not going to Milan because I was still set for a move to England and Arsenal then,” Roback admitted. “In the end, I chose Milan. I went with my gut feeling, even though I knew that Arsenal agreed a deal with Hammarby.”

It’s worth mentioning that Zlatan Ibrahimovic, of AC Milan, part-owns Hammarby. I think you’d have to be a bit naive to believe that didn’t play any part in the Swedish youth international’s transfer.

Hammarby director Jesper Jansson confirmed interest from Arsenal earlier this year. Jansson explained that Roback even went to visit Arsenal, which is presumably when they made the offer. In the end, it wasn’t to be.

Roback made one senior appearance for Hammarby, playing 46 minutes of their Swedish cup quarter-final defeat to IFK Goteborg. He’s an u17 international, but clearly still in the early stages of his development.

Unfortunately for Arsenal, that development will be with Milan.