Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit admits he regrets joining Chelsea over Manchester United.

The French World Cup winner won nothing in three years at Stamford Bridge after arriving from Barcelona in 2001.

Petit moved to Chelsea despite two calls from Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger urging him to return to Arsenal.

The midfielder blames his decision on his then-wife wanting to live in London and not Manchester.

Petit, 52, told FourFourTwo. “Arsenal approached me but so did Manchester United.

“I spoke to Arsene. He really wanted me back, but I was honest with him.

“I said, ‘I appreciate it and it’s very tempting, but I didn’t feel that you wanted me to stay when I signed for Barcelona a year ago’.

“It’s like divorcing somebody. When you don’t feel desired by them, what’s the point of going back?

“I should have gone to Manchester United, because Sir Alex Ferguson called me twice.

“We had a very good conversation and it was tempting, but once again I listened to my wife.

“She wanted to go back to London – she didn’t want to live in Manchester – so I made the same mistake twice in one year.”