Kiwior: “Arteta didn’t want to let me go to Portugal” | OneFootball

Jakub Kiwior has been a key player in Francesco Farioli's eleven. Arriving from Arsenal, the Polish defender admitted that Mikel Arteta did not intend to authorize his departure, contrary to reports in the English press.

“I laughed at that because it was exactly the opposite. Arsenal didn't want to let me leave London and didn't agree to a transfer for a long time. I was valued for the footballer I was. No one wanted to get rid of me,” he began by saying in an interview with TVP Sport.

“In this last transfer window, the conclusion of the deal was open until the end. The coach, Mikel Arteta, didn't want to let me go to Portugal. So, I never felt unwanted at Arsenal, nor did I have any reason to feel that I was being pushed out of the club. The decision to leave was entirely mine. I wanted to be a starter, but with Gabriel and Saliba ahead of me, the chances of that happening were slim,” he added.

Regarding the choice to strengthen the Dragons, the defender mentioned that he received daily calls.

“At one point, they contacted me every day. They fought with all their might and I saw that they cared. They didn't give up and weren't discouraged, despite many refusals from Arsenal. They pursued the goal and achieved it. I saw that they didn't give up, so I thought it was worth going down this path. I had many offers, but at one point I bet on FC Porto and when I saw that Jan Bednarek had joined them, I said to myself: ‘If it goes well, it will be great.’ And it is,” he pointed out.

Regarding his arrival in Portugal, Kiwior stated that he was well integrated into the locker room.

“I found a great locker room and they helped me with everything. After a month, I feel as if I've been there for years, even without knowing anyone before – except for Bednarek.”

The 25-year-old Pole also said he appreciates the climate in Portugal, although the water is still cold, and admitted that he will strive to learn the language.

“In London, it rains much more and in Portugal, it is warmer. I wanted to move to a country with a more pleasant climate for my wife and my children (that's what I call my two dogs). We can spend more time outdoors and go to the beach. For now, I've only dipped my feet, the water is cold, but the time will come when I will dive.”

“We will want to learn the language. Now we are learning the first words, Bednarek already knows more. For now, I've had many things to sort out, related to the move and formalities in the UK. Only now are things calming down and there will be time to learn Portuguese, although English is also spoken in the locker room,” he concluded.

This season, Kiwior has already made five appearances in the FC Porto jersey, after arriving on the last day of the summer transfer window.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.