Bacary Sagna looked relaxed and cheerful as he enjoyed quality time with his wife, Ludivine, and their children on a beach in Rio. The Manchester City signing took a refreshing break after helping France secure a spot in the World Cup’s last 16 with a draw against Ecuador.
Following his recent move to Manchester City, Sagna addressed speculation regarding his decision to leave Arsenal. He firmly denied claims that his departure was financially motivated, explaining that his salary at Arsenal had remained unchanged for six years. Instead, he emphasized that his move was driven by a desire for a fresh challenge and growth in his career.
Sagna confirmed, “I am a City player,” as he prepared for the next chapter of his career. He highlighted that money was not the motivation for his departure, stating, “I want to clear everything up because I keep reading that I did it for money and that I’m greedy. I have stayed with Arsenal on the same contract since 2008 and never asked for more money.”
He added, “For those who think it’s for money, it’s not. I just wanted a change—I needed a boost in my career, and I felt it was about time.” Sagna acknowledged the difficulty of remaining focused during the FA Cup run while dealing with media speculation, urging his family to ignore the rumors
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Reflecting on his time at Arsenal, Sagna’s last game for the club was their 3-2 FA Cup final victory against Hull City in May, which marked the only trophy he won during his seven-year tenure. He noted that the move to Manchester City was motivated by his aspirations for Premier League and Champions League success under Manuel Pellegrini.
“This is an exciting time for me and my career,” he said. “I think we have a good team with City, and we can achieve great things.” Sagna expressed gratitude for Arsenal, acknowledging the club’s role in shaping him as both a player and a person. “Arsenal made me grow up as a player and as a man. We finally won a trophy, but for me, it’s not just about that. It’s just that I personally wanted a boost—I needed to start again.”
