Bendtner came agonisingly close to sealing a move to Crystal Palace in 2013
Former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner has revealed how he tried to force a move away from the club by calling then-manager Arsene Wenger a w***er and an a**hole during a heated argument.
The Dane progressed through the academy ranks at Arsenal but, after breaking into the first team, failed to hold down a regular starting berth under Wenger.
He would eventually leave the club on a permanent basis by signing for Wolfsburg in 2014, but, as he revealed in an interview with FourFourTwo, came agonisingly close to sealing a move to Crystal Palace 12 months before his transfer to Germany.
Bendtner was keen to complete the move to Selhurst Park, but was informed by Wenger that Arsenal’s failure to secure a replacement meant that he would be required to stay put.
“We respected each other and had very good meetings – we were honest with each other,” Bendtner is quoted as saying, “But at that moment, I wanted to leave Arsenal and Crystal Palace had made a great offer for me.
“Wenger phoned and said, ‘Sorry, you can’t go.’ That felt like a massive blow to me, as I’d been waiting all week to leave. I called Arsene a w***er and an a***hole so he would have to sell me, but it didn’t work.
“That showed me his character because he explained that it was for the best of the football club that I stayed. It was hard to argue with him.
“That was the only time we had a heated conversation – all the other times it was just him shouting at me!”
Bendtner recently released his autobiography, which details some of the problems he encountered during his time as an Arsenal player – also detailing the late-night trip to a casino which saw him gamble away £400,000 in under 90 minutes.
