Bologna forward Marko Arnautovic admitted he cared about ‘anything but football’ during his time at Inter and revealed why he joined the Rossoblu. ‘I returned to close a circle, not for revenge’.
Arnautovic returned to Europe over the summer and the 32-year-old decided to join Bologna on a two-year contract.
The former West Ham United and Stoke City striker had spent two seasons at Shanghai Port in China and brings experience from Dutch football and the German Bundesliga.
He was asked why he decided joined Bologna and pointed at the project.
“There were those who asked me ‘why Bologna?’,” Arnautovic told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I replied that surely some Atalanta players had been asked the same thing six years ago.
“Now, look where Atalanta are. That’s the path, step by step.”
Arnautovic arrived at Inter in August 2009 and was a part of the Jose Mourinho squad that won the Treble in 2009-10.
But the Austrian only lasted one season at the Nerazzurri and admitted he mostly cared about going out in the big city.
“At Inter, I was a boy at Luna Park. The big city, the big contract, the great champions, everything shining,” Arnautovic continued. “Every day I was happy to see the champions by my side.
“But for me, it was more important to go out, the life outside of football. Anything but football. A bad boy? I never cared what they said. Only from the sixth month onwards I began to focus on football. [Jose] Mourinho made me understand a few things and I started to do things seriously.
“But in the interviews, I never said I had won the Treble. I was there, but in two per cent, as a fan.”
Arnautovic has scored six times in 14 Serie A games with Bologna and has made a big impact at the Renato Dall’Ara.
“I came back to close a circle and not for revenge,” Arnautovic said. “My new career was born at Stoke: I was focused on football.
“Like with West Ham. I had a beautiful time in England. I received proposals from Russia, Turkey, MLS: I talked about it with my brother, my agent.
“We all said no. Then China arrived and I decided to make a new life. Super people, super team, Shanghai was beautiful. Everything was ready, a job for my wife, school for the children.
“Then the pandemic arrived, and I lived alone for two years. It was tough. In the summer, I said to myself: I’m going back to Europe. I want to be with my loved ones.”
Arnautovic explained Bologna tried to sign him already last winter and revealed he was convinced by the project.
“In December 2020, they showed up. I answered no, I can’t,” he said. “I had to finish my journey with Shanghai.
“But then Bologna came back and unlike others, they didn’t speak about useless gossip. They presented a technical and contractual project. That’s how you do it.
“I spoke to Sinisa [Mihahjlovic] before the European Championship and I thought: it’s my team.”