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Emmanuel Petit: ‘I left Arsenal to join Barcelona for a woman – and I regret it’

30 May 2026 10:59 BST | 4 min read

Emmanuel Petit

Robin Bairner

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006

Former Arsenal star Emmanuel Petit has revealed his reason for departing the Gunners – actress wife Agathe de la Fontaine.

Petit was a Premier League champion at Arsenal in the 1997/98 season in what was Arsene Wenger’s first title triumph in England’s top-flight. He would go on to win the World Cup with France in 1998, famously scoring in the 3-0 win over Brazil in the final, but elected to leave Arsenal for Barcelona in 2000.

The 55-year-old opened up on his decision to leave North London, explaining it was his now ex-wife De la Fontaine that drove him to make a decision that he now regrets.

Speaking to Stadium Astro, he explained: “If I could go back in time I would definitely choose a different option. I always saw Barcelona and Real Madrid as among the biggest clubs in the world, but I should have stayed at Arsenal.

“Sometimes the grass isn't greener elsewhere, and it's better to stay where you are. When you have everything, why leave?”

Petit had previously recounted his raucous days as a young footballer in his autobiography ‘A Fleur de Peau’.

“On my days off I discovered the parallel world of Parisian nights – private soirees, swingers clubs,” he said. “They often went on in incredibly luxurious apartments whose owners I didn't even know – but everyone recognised me.”

He also wrote about one incident at the Sopwell House hotel close to Arsenal’s training ground.

“This pretty girl came regularly,” Petit wrote. “We had a relationship one day in the snooker room. The next morning, the director and his staff welcomed me with applause.

“He said the room had cameras but reassured me that, as an Arsenal fan, he wouldn’t make the slightest use of it.”

Emmanuel Petit with ex-wife Agathe de la Fontaine

What happened to Petit after he left Arsenal?

Petit’s departure to Barcelona marked a challenging period in his career.

The French midfielder moved to the Catalan club in a joint transfer with Marc Overmars, with his individual fee valued at £7 million. However, his time in Spain proved difficult as the new signing struggled with injuries and was frequently played out of position in defence

After making 38 appearances and scoring just once, the midfielder left Barcelona after a single season.

He would return to London, but with Chelsea, where he formed an effective midfield partnership with Frank Lampard. Their collaboration was instrumental during the 2002-03 campaign, helping the London side secure a top-four finish and Champions League qualification.

Persistent knee injuries severely limited his impact during his final season at Stamford Bridge. Following his release in the summer of 2004 and three operations in a single year, the veteran officially announced his retirement on 20 January 2005, at the age of 34.

Before hanging up his boots, the former Monaco man rejected an offer from Bolton. He insisted he only wanted to continue his career if he could maintain his previous top-flight standards.

The former France international is now a prominent media personality. The pundit is a regular fixture for French network RMC Sport and is a key member of the talkSPORT broadcast team for the FIFA World Cup later this year.

Alongside these broadcasting duties, Petit continues his long-standing work as an ambassador for the Homeless World Cup.