French striker Olivier Giroud admits he was on the verge of signing for Inter Milan one year before he ended up joining their crosstown rivals AC Milan.
The 37-year-old spent nine years in the Premier League between Arsenal and Chelsea before landing in Italy in 2021.
Despite arriving in Serie A at a relatively advanced age, the bomber still left his mark in the Peninsula.
He even scored a Derby della Madonnina brace that turned the result upside-down. This proved to be a vital turn in the Serie A title race which the Rossoneri eventually won in 2021/22.
After bidding Milan an emotional farewell at the end of last season, Giroud has now signed for Los Angeles FC.
During his unveiling, he was asked about his previous links with LAFC’s direct rivals Los Angeles Galaxy.
The veteran felt that history is repeating itself, as he was also close to signing for Inter before winding up at Milan.
“It’s funny because in 2020 I was close to signing with Inter, but fate had me joining Milan a year later,” explained Giroud during his first press conference with the MLS club (via FcInter1908).
Olivier Giroud Was About To Join Inter Milan In 2020
“Even prior to that, I had met with someone from LA Galaxy. But I told them that it wasn’t right for me to leave Europe at that stage.
“So it was my destiny to sign for Los Angeles FC. It’s the right time to discover a new league. It’s an extraordinary life experience for me and my family.
“When I decided not to renew my contract with Milan, I also thought that it was the right time to leave the French national team,”
Giroud announced his international retirement after taking part in France’s EURO 2024 campaign.
Les Bleus reached the semi-final but fell short against eventual winners Spain.
