Arsenal's Mathieu Debuchy on his relationship with Arsene Wenger: 'We say hello, nothing more'

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Vaishali Bhardwaj29 December 2016

Mathieu Debuchy has opened up about his relationship with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, revealing the pair "say hello and nothing more".

The defender moved to Arsenal from Newcastle in 2014, but has since lost his right-back starting spot to Hector Bellerin following a string of injuries.

The Frenchman saw a move to Arsenal's Premier League rivals Manchester United fall through last year before spending the second half of the campaign on loan at French Ligue 1 club Bordeaux.

Debuchy has since played just 16 minutes of Premier League football this season, which came against Bournemouth in November before a hamstring injury cut short his return to action.

The 31-year-old, who is sidelined for six weeks, has now talked about his lack of game time at Arsenal, and revealed he doesn't know whether his future still lies in north London.

Speaking to French publication L'Equipe, Debuchy said: "Before my loan to Bordeaux, I was often in his office. But now, I have not felt the need to. I do not want to.

"We greet each other, we say hello, nothing more."

When then asked about United's interest in 2015, the 31-year-old replied: "I wasn't playing a lot, it was United, there's nothing else to say. For me, it was unexpected, but the coach said no.

"It's something I did not appreciate. He wasn't using me, so I didn't see his interest in doing that."

Debuchy has been linked with a return to France, this time to Marseille, but he said: "Honestly, I do not know where that is [his next club]. I said to my agents not to come to me unless they have something concrete.

"Aside from that, Marseille are still Marseille. Even if the results have been a little difficult, they remain one of the biggest clubs in Ligue 1.

"I enjoyed my time at Bordeaux enormously. You have to see what presents itself. I have a family, four children, that comes into consideration. And that is why, for example, I have not followed up some contacts in Turkey.

"I want a new challenge. I miss not having that excitement, the adrenaline."

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