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\t<\/div>David Raya has revealed that he was \u2018very close\u2019 to joining Bayern Munich instead of Arsenal.<\/p>\n
Arsenal signed Raya\u00a0on a season-long loan from Brentford in August 2023 and then made the deal permanent the following year for \u00a327 million.<\/p>\n
The Spanish goalkeeper has been a pivotal figure in Mikel Arteta\u2019s side this season as they remain in contention to win four trophies, starting with the Carabao Cup this Sunday.<\/p>\n
When asked about his decision to join Arsenal, Raya revealed in an interview with Sky Sports that a move to Bayern was also an option.<\/p>\n
\u2018Just obviously the coach, the philosophy that when they came for me, the project that was there, the club was rising,\u2019 Raya said.<\/p>\n
\u2018I just wanted to make a big step in my career coming from Brentford and I think Arsenal was the best team to do it.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tYour football fix\t\t\t<\/h2>\n Metro<\/strong>‘s Head of Sport James Goldman delivers punchy analysis, transfer talk and his take on the week’s biggest stories direct to your inbox every week.<\/p>\n Sign up here, it’s an open goal.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2018Obviously it was raising such a young squad as well and I think it was the best choice I\u2019ve made to come to this club.<\/p>\n \u2018I was very close to go to another club but obviously everything happened with Arsenal because it was right in between and everything. I was very, very close to going to another club but luckily it didn\u2019t happen and Arsenal in the end made the bid and I came here.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDeclan Rice and Thierry Henry praise David Raya\t\t\t<\/h2>\n Declan Rice<\/strong>: \u2018He deserves every bit of credit he\u2019s getting. I wish people could come in every day and see how he trains. Because the intensity he trains at and the level that he trains at there\u2019s no reason why he\u2019s not doing what he\u2019s doing on the pitch it\u2019s incredible to see him every day. The effort he makes with the lads, he\u2019s turned into a real leader for us and when you\u2019ve got a keeper like that it gives everyone confidence and yes, he\u2019s incredible.\u2019<\/p>\n Thierry Henry: <\/strong>\u2018This guy should be in contention to be player of the season because of what he does for Arsenal every single time. It\u2019s very difficult sometimes to see what a goalkeeper does because he cannot always make you win the game. He can make you hope that you\u2019re not losing it by making saves, but he does that two to three times every single game. It\u2019s just outstanding.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Asked to name the club, Raya replied: \u2018It was Bayern Munich.\u2019<\/p>\n Raya was also asked to name the toughest player he comes up against in training with Arsenal.<\/p>\n \u2018I would say probably Gabriel Jesus because he\u2019s so technical, he can do anything inside the box,\u2019 Raya replied.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s so, so tricky to go one versus one with him. He\u2019s a flair player, he\u2019s Brazilian, he has so much technique.\u2019<\/p>\n For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on ![\"Arsenal's](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SEI_289871456-a785.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646\")
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