Dusan Vlahovic offers blunt take on Arsenal rejection as Juventus striker explains transfer choice

Dusan Vlahovic has revealed that he never considered joining Arsenal in January once Juventus showed transfer interest in him.

The former Fiorentina striker was a man in demand at La Viola following exceptional form there. A fantastic record in front of goal in 2021 saw him rank as one of the top scorers across Europe.

And Arsenal, who let Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leave to Barcelona in January, went after Vlahovic as a new striker.

However, the Serbia international chose Juventus, where he has scored nine goals in 21 games so far.

Speaking to The Telegraph, though, Vlahovic insisted that there was never a decision to make once Juve came forward.

“Maybe my agent knows [about Arsenal’s offer] but I never talked to anyone about it,” the 22-year-old said.

“I just had one club in my mind because Juventus is Juventus. There is nothing else to say. And now I feel honoured to be given this jersey. It’s incredible every time I put it on.

“I definitely identify with their DNA. The Juventus personality coincides with my personality.

“When you come here you never give up, you fight all the time, you make the sacrifices. This was definitely what I was looking for.”

Vlahovic scored seven of his first nine Juventus goals in Serie A, the other two in the Coppa Italia.

Juve’s top-four Serie A finish means that Vlahovic can now also look forward to playing Champions League football next season.

The striker said of his desire to find the net: “Great joy, obviously, and it’s a kind of joy I have with my family, but it’s definitely the greatest emotion of all.

“It’s something that fills me, pervades me completely. And so if I don’t feel that emotion then I feel low, I feel empty. I have a sense of emptiness. But if I score it is like