Paris Saint-Germain defender turned down Chelsea on deadline day

Thomas Meunier has sensationally revealed he could have left Paris Saint-Germain to join Chelsea in the wake of Dani Alves’ arrival over the summer.

Alves left Juventus at the end of last season and was widely expected to reunite with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City before completing a stunning switch to the Ligue 1 giants.

The Brazilian’s arrival threw Meunier’s future at the Parc des Princes into serious doubt and now the 26-year-old has revealed there was an option to join Chelsea on the final day of the summer transfer window.

“I was expecting the arrival of a right-back but not that of Dani,” he told Eleven Sports, via RMC Sport. “I did not know what to think. Was I only going to be a substitute? I could have left for Chelsea on the final day of the summer transfer window but I did not.

“I am good here and I do not want to leave – I want to become the first choice in this role by the end of the season.” 

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte was determined to sign another right-back in the summer to provide competition for Victor Moses and instead turned to Torino defender Davide Zappacosta after failing to secure the services of Meunier.

PSG head coach Unai Emery has opted to rotate Meunier and Alves at right-back in Ligue 1 this season and they have both started six matches each at right-back so far in the league.

However, Meunier hasn’t featured in the Champions League so far this season, but given Alves will be 35 at the end of the season, it would be a surprise if Meunier was not first choice at the start of the 2018/19 campaign.

Despite failing to nail down a guaranteed place in the team, no defender has scored more Ligue 1 goals than Meunier (3) this season.

Moreover, in the 2018 World Cup qualification process for UEFA nations, only Germany’s Joshua Kimmich (9) – also a right-back – registered more assists than Meunier did for Belgium (7).