Gallas snubbed other offers

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    20110311

    French centre-half chose Spurs over Juve and PSG

    By Chris Burton   Last updated: 11th March 2011   Subscribe to RSS Feed

    Gallas snubbed other offers

    Gallas: Settled in England

    Tottenham has to be big, I play with big players. It will be very important to be in the Champions League next season.

    William Gallas
    Quotes of the week

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    William Gallas has revealed that he turned down moves to Juventus and Paris St Germain last summer.

    The Frenchman dropped into the free agent market at the end of the 2009/10 campaign, having seen his contract at Arsenal expire.

    He eventually ending up crossing the north London divide to sign for Tottenham, penning a one-year deal at White Hart Lane.

    The 33-year-old insists that move was driven by personal motives, not just sporting ones, with numerous other approaches having been knocked back.

    He told L’Equipe: “Everyone said I had no club this summer.

    “But it’s because I said no to many clubs. I had Juventus, I told them ‘no’ because my family came first. I wanted to stay in London. PSG also wanted me to sign for them. I did not want to go there.

    “So people should stop talking nonsense like William Gallas had no club and at the last moment he found Tottenham.

    “No, it’s just that William Gallas wanted to stay in London for his family. I have four children and I think about my family first. And Tottenham was a good opportunity.”

    Target

    Gallas has a played a key role for Tottenham this season, helping them to challenge for a top-four finish in the Premier League and progress through to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

    He admits he would be happy to prolong his association with the club and hopes he can help Harry Redknapp’s side cement their standing among European football’s elite.

    Gallas added: “We are fifth in the Premier League and our target is to qualify for the Champions League.

    “Tottenham has to be big, I play with big players. It will be very important to be in the Champions League next season.

    “So I will do my best to give everything for the fans because they deserve it. They are unbelievable. Like I say, Tottenham has to be big.”

    Barclays Prem Top 4 Finish 10/11 Top 4 Finish: Tottenham 15/8

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    Gallas snubbed other offers