Olivier Giroud has admitted that France boss Didier Deschamps advised him to leave Arsenal and move to a different club.
The 31-year-old joined Chelsea on the closing day of the January window, the same day that the Gunners sealed the club-record signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Giroud found himself on the fringes of the Arsenal squad this term and, with the World Cup coming up in the summer, the forward revealed the advice given to him by his national team coach.
"I spoke with Didier Deschamps. He did not tell me to join Chelsea but just to change clubs," Giroud told French outlet Telefoot.
"Dortmund was interested, but for a loan, there was Seville too and at one point my agent received a call from Roma.
"But my choice was quite clear and obvious when I knew that Antonio Conte wanted to work with me.
"I know that Conte appreciates my profile, we work well together. We are two forward strikers in Chelsea. There will be good competition between us."
Giroud scored 105 goals in 253 games for Arsenal after signing from Montpellier in June 2012.
Giuseppe Labellarte
