I was going to join Man City but they wouldn't give me a flat so I chose Arsenal instead

Ismael Bennacer was being chased by Manchester City before signing for Arsenal but turned them down as he didn't want to live in the club's on-site accommodation

A former Arsenal youngster once rejected Manchester City because they didn't provide a flat for him and his sister.

Ismael Bennacer joined the north London club in 2015, having starred in the youth ranks at his boyhood club, Arles, in France. City, who visit the Gunners on Sunday, showed their hand first, but despite his initial excitement at being courted by the club, he rejected a move to Manchester.

Speaking to Instant Foot in 2024, the AC Milan midfielder, currently on loan at Dinamo Zagreb, revealed: "[City] called me and told me, 'We want you to be with the reserves,' and everything.

"It's City, man. I was ready. They told me, 'Come see the facilities,' so I did. I got there, I don't know, I wasn't feeling it."

Despite turning down City, Bennacer confessed he was wowed by the club's outstanding setup and recalled the discussion he had with Gunners icon Patrick Vieira, who was in charge of City's Elite Development Squad at the time.

The midfielder said: "Their facilities were crazy. Amazing. I spoke with Vieira and everything."

But while he was taken aback by the club's infrastructure, their unwillingness to arrange a flat for him and his sister eventually prevented a deal from materialising. He explained: "I liked the talk we had, but the fact they wanted me at the academy, to sleep there.

"I wanted a flat. I wanted my sister to come with me. That's why I dropped City. Then there was Arsenal towards the end of July."

The now 27-year-old made just one senior appearance for Arsenal before being loaned out to French side Tours in 2017. Six months later, he made a permanent move to Empoli, where he became a crucial figure for the club during his two-year stint, winning the Serie B championship in his maiden campaign.

His outstanding displays attracted Milan's attention in 2019, and they reportedly paid £14million to secure his services. He captured another title with the Rossoneri in 2022, as the Italian giants claimed the Scudetto for the first time since 2011.

At international level, Bennacer has become a key man for Algeria since making his senior bow in 2016. His defining moment in national colours came in 2019 when they triumphed in the Africa Cup of Nations, with Bennacer earning Player of the Tournament.

As for City and Arsenal, they meet in an early albeit equally important title contenders clash at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon. The hosts can open up a six-point gap on Pep Guardiola's side with a victory.