Per Mertesacker looks set to retire from
football after revealing he is negotiating a
non-playing role to stay at Arsenal.
Per Mertesacker endured a frustrating season
on the sidelines with a troublesome knee
injury, which saw him make just one start –
the FA Cup final against Chelsea.
The 32-year-old centre-back concedes he can
no longer cope with the demands of top-flight
football and feels he will be better served by
hanging up his boots, although manager
Arsene Wenger wants him to stay at the
Emirates Stadium.
“I was extremely lucky with my career and I
want to finish on a high,” the German told
Sport1. “I am motivated, but I cannot play
every three days any more. I don’t want to
stretch my luck.
“I recently told him [Arsene Wenger] that I am
tired, mentally wasted. The first time in my
career I thought it makes no sense anymore,
that I’ll retire. No matter how hard I practiced
I didn’t get a chance.
“At Arsenal you are replaceable so quickly as
a player, I don’t want to stand in someone’s
way. Winning the FA Cup was an extreme
close which I could not expect.
“Arsenal want to keep hold of me and there
are already talks. It will be in the business
operations. I will stand on the other side.”
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