In 2020, once his Chelsea contract had expired, midfielder Willian opted to join London rivals Arsenal on a big contract lasting three years.

However, it was three months, rather than years, after which he had decided it was time to move on, after not feeling settled in his new surroundings.

"I was not happy, that's why I didn't perform. I don't want to go into the details, but I wasn't happy," Willian told Rio Ferdinand's Vibe with Five podcast.

"So, when I arrived there I was happy, from the beginning I was motivated, I wanted to do well, new club, new mates, new projects.

"After three months, I told my agent "please, I want to go". I don't want to speak bad about the club because it is a big club, has a big history in football, big players played there before it's a big club - but it didn't work, it was of course the most difficult time of my career.'

"It was big money that I gave up. But sometimes money is not the most important thing in life. I think you need to be happy, get pleasure every day waking up in the morning to go to train. I wasn't having that.

"I said to myself, with my family, I cannot stay here, I am not happy here. I have to leave, find a way out, leave the club, because if I stay I am going to stay the same. For me, it's unfair to stay in a place that you don't want to stay just because of the money. For me, it was that."