Transfer Centre

Serge Aurier labels Arsenal "the enemy" in honest transfer admission

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 06 October 2021

Villarreal defender Serge Aurier insists he never considered signing for "the enemy" Arsenal following his departure from Tottenham Hotspur.

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Serge Aurier has insisted that he would never join "the enemy" Arsenal due to his respect for the Lilywhites.

The Ivorian right-back mutually terminated his contract at Tottenham earlier in the summer and was briefly linked with a shock move across North London to the Emirates.

However, Aurier has since signed for Villarreal as a free agent, and the defender has affirmed that he would never betray Spurs by joining "the enemy".

Aurier wrote on Instagram: "First of all, I would like to thank all the Spurs fans for these four wonderful seasons with you. They were all different but I leave with some great memories. I really enjoyed playing the game wearing your colours proudly.

"It is true that not everything was perfect, there were moments of joy and sadness but know one thing, I have always played 100 per cent, without cheating!

"I have never seen myself at another club in England if not at your place! And I didn't see myself joining the enemy even less because I have too much respect for our club, for our history and for all our moments shared together."

Aurier banked eight goals and 17 assists in 110 appearances for Tottenham during his four-year spell in the English capital.