Joey Barton has admitted that he was close to joining Arsenal after being told he could leave Newcastle United on a free transfer.
However, following a clash with Gunners attacker Gervinho on the opening day of the season while playing for the Magpies, the 29-year-old revealed that his chances of signing on at the Emirates Stadium evaporated.
The midfielder eventually joined Queens Park Rangers, but he confesses that things could have been different.
"If I hadn't played against Arsenal, I may have signed for them," Barton told BBC Sport.
"There were a couple of conversations [with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger] but that's different to actually signing.
"The Gervinho incident happened and there's nothing I can do about it now. If it happened again, I'd like to think I'd deal with it differently."
Barton has been made Rangers captain by manager Neil Warnock.
Written by
Liam Apicella
Liam Apicella
