'I played for Man Utd and Arsenal – I don't regret my decision to move but it was hard'

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Henrikh Mkhitaryan admitted he faced "hard" times at Manchester United before joining Arsenal . The 37-year-old, who currently plays for Inter Milan, joined the Red Devils in a £26million deal from Borussia Dortmund in 2016.

Reportedly of interest to Liverpool at the time, it was United – then managed by Jose Mourinho – who won his signature. However, Mkhitaryan's time at Old Trafford didn't meet expectations and he left just 18 months later to join the Gunners, with Alexis Sanchez going the other way in a swap deal .

Despite failing to reach the heights he achieved in Germany, the attacking midfielder won the Europa League and EFL Cup in his first season, as he scored a goal in the European final in the 2-0 win against Ajax.

His second season saw his game time diminish with Mourinho eager to part ways with him. Admitting his time working under the legendary manager was "very hard", Mkhitaryan said it was an experience he learned from.

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Speaking in 2021, he told The Athletic : "I never regret my decisions. At that time, he (Mourinho) was one of the most successful coaches in the world . I think he was the coach with the most trophies. So that was a different experience.

"It was very hard but I learned a lot as well. I learned how to defend, how to help the team. It was not only about scoring goals and making assists. It was more about the team winning so it doesn't matter who scored, we had to win together.

"It didn't matter who made the assist we must always be happy that we won the game." Ending his United tenure with 13 goals in 63 games, the Armenian insisted that despite his short stint at the club, he delivered several pieces of silverware.

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"What I want to say is that I had a hard time but after the first two or three months there, I had a very good time," he added. "I won three trophies with the club, which was amazing. You know, some players have been playing in Manchester for ages but they haven't won anything."

Mkhitaryan's time at the Emirates was even more underwhelming as he netted just nine goals in 59 games and ended his spell at Arsenal without winning a trophy. He made a move to Roma in 2019 and lasted three years there before signing for Inter in 2022, where he's remained ever since.

In his autobiography 'My Life Always at the Centre', Mkhitaryan delved into his tumultuous relationship with Mourinho and revealed the lengths the former Chelsea boss allegedly went to in order to seal his departure.

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"I told him, you've been criticising me for a year-and-a-half now, ever since I arrived at Manchester United ," he wrote. "Mourinho told me I was 's***' and I just lost my temper. 'You are the s***. An enormous one.' Mou replied: 'Get out of here, I never want to see you again.

"During the training sessions, the coach said nothing to me, he remained at a religious level of silence, but every evening he'd send me a message via WhatsApp . 'Miki, leave, please.' The situation had become grotesque. I'd reply every time with the same copy and paste response.

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"'I will leave if I find the right team, otherwise I'll wait for the summer.' Towards the middle of January, the text changed slightly. 'Miki, please leave, that way I can get Alexis Sanchez.' Mino Raiola was working on this exchange with Arsenal.