Matteo Guendouzi completed a loan move to Marseille this week and he admitted the confidence they showed in him, along with their project, helped him decide to move there.

Matteo Guendouzi signed an agreement with Marseille long before the two clubs could come to an arrangement. Despite late interest from Borussia Dortmund and Benfica, Guendouzi had his heart set on moving to Marseille after being wooed by the Ligue 1 side.

As a result, Arsenal probably won’t make as much on the player as they could have if there had been a bidding war. The midfielder, who was valued at £45m when Mikel Arteta took over, and subject to £60m move rumours just a few months before, saw his value plummet when he was banished from the Arsenal first team squad.

At the time of his loan move, he was worth just £18m, but Arsenal won’t even get that. They will get a maximum of €12m (excluding any sell-on clause) when the deal becomes permanent next summer, which it seems destined to do.

Whatever really happened between Matteo Guendouzi and Mikel Arteta, it was costly in many ways.

Speaking to the media after the deal was made official, Guendouzi said, “I played when very young at PSG, but I lived in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, it was just the club in my city, I represented it. Today I am focused on Marseille, I am here for the club, the fans, the people of Marseille, and I have already been shown love here, I want to give them back to the field by wetting the jersey.

“Marseille is an historic club, one of the biggest in Europe. I was really drawn to the project from my discussions with the president and coach Sampaoli.

“I felt confidence on their part. We immediately talked about football, we had a good feeling. I sincerely thank Pablo Longoria, he did a lot for me to come here.”