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Manchester United utility man Daley Blind has admitted that he came close to joining Arsenal when he was 16 years old.
Blind, now 25, said: "I had the chance to move to London at a young age. I was in the Ajax academy and one day I came home from school.
"My mum and dad said to me: 'Arsenal have called today. They want you.'
"I thought they were taking the mickey. It was my dream to be a player in the first team of Ajax but we went to Arsenal.
"We were there for a day. It was great. They offered to sort out everything for my schooling, so I could get my A levels.
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Show all 42"They also offered me an incredible contract, especially for a boy of my age. Ajax offered me a contract too at the same time.
"The money was nowhere near what I could earn at Arsenal. My dad left it up to me and I decided to stay at Ajax."
Blind, who can play in defence or midfield, eventually joined United from Ajax for £13.8m last summer.
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