Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira has revealed that a conversation took place in 2009 surrounding a possible transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.
Now Crystal Palace boss, the Frenchman was speaking in the build-up to the Eagles clash with Spurs on Saturday lunchtime and revealed the shock talks from his Inter Milan days.
A conversation was had with Harry Redknapp at the time but Vieira insists that he never seriously considered making the move that would have sent shockwaves through north London.
"It is too far and a long time ago. I don't remember," the Eagles head coach said of the incident in his pre-match press conference prior to the Tottenham clash.
"No, that was a period where I really wanted to come back to the Premier League.
"Knowing Harry quite well and admiring him as a manager, we had a conversation about different options but at the end there was no chance of me coming to England and going to Spurs, no chance."
Vieira did scratch that Premier League itch but by joining Manchester City in January 2010 instead where he stayed for a season and a half, making 46 appearances and adding another FA Cup to his collection.
There was plenty of delight around the Emirates on Saturday as their hero's Palace side brushed Tottenham aside 3-0 at Selhurst Park, a Wilfried Zaha penalty and a debut brace from Odsonne Edouard enough to secure three points.
Arsenal were also able to pick up their first three points of the season, edging past Norwich City 1-0 to lift Mikel Arteta off the foot of the Premier League table.
