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Yano thought the Wenger call was a parody

Ex-Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo has revealed the shock phone call he received from Arsene Wenger before joining from Auxerre in 2013.

Sanogo only played 20 times and scored one goal before leaving for Toulouse in 2017 but he looks back fondly on his first conversation with the legendary French coach.

Speaking to Masterclass Media, he said: “Despite all the problems I had, the phone didn’t ring for two years. But after my seven goals in two games, Arsene Wenger calls me.

“I had a little Motorola, I promise you I had this phone. I was at home with my Macbook and saw +44. I thought, ‘What is this number?’ So I don’t answer, but he called again.

“I say ‘Hello’. ‘Hello, this is Arsene Wenger’. I thought it was a joke.

“I say yes?’ “It’s Yaya Sanogo?” I say “yes” and I don’t speak.

“He says to me: ‘Everyone is talking about you, seven goals in a week, not many players have done it’. And I said to him: ‘Yes, thank you, that’s nice’. But I didn’t know what to say should.

“He said to me, ‘I see you’re shy. I’m taking my plane and I want to meet you. I don’t know if you care, I know there are a lot of clubs that want you, especially after the week you’ve had… Would you be interested in meeting me in Paris?’

“I said ‘Yes’ but I don’t know. I think it’s amazing. He asked me when it’s okay to come to Paris and he hung up. I said ‘Wait, wait, it really was Wenger ?’ I struggled for two years, six, seven games [later], Wenger calls me. I’ll sign right away.”