Tuesday 25 August 2015 10:44, UK
Crystal Palace midfielder Yohan Cabaye has revealed he received no offers from any of the Premier League's "big clubs" before making the move to Selhurst Park.
The Eagles signed the France international from Paris Saint-Germain for a club record £10m fee last month, which could rise to £13m with add-ons. The deal saw Cabaye link up with his former Newcastle manager Alan Pardew.
Cabaye was linked with a move to Arsenal prior to sealing a return to the Premier League with Palace, but the 29-year-old insists his decision to leave the French capital for south London was not his second choice.
"No one from the big clubs came forward, but it's not a default choice, far from it," he told the London Evening Standard.
"I have been reunited with my former coach and I was not heading into the unknown. I feel really good."
Cabaye has made a productive start to life at Palace, scoring on his debut in the 3-1 opening day victory over Norwich and starting both of Palace's other Premier League fixtures so far.
Having endured a difficult 18 months in Paris with PSG – scoring just one goal in 22 Ligue 1 starts following his £18m move from Newcastle – Cabaye admits he failed to settle after returning to France.
"It didn't go as I wanted in Paris, but I have no hard feelings towards anyone," he added.
"It's hard when you know you're in a team where you're going to try things and, in the end, when you try them, sometimes you pull them off and sometimes not."
"I know that when I arrived, perhaps there were certain players that didn't want me to come. As soon as there was a ball lost, an interception missed or not the right pass, people would shout, would look at you strangely," the midfielder said.
"Perhaps I lacked a little insouciance in my play. Perhaps I asked myself too many questions. That's why I don't want to hide behind injuries and excuses. Yes, I think there wasn't enough 'Yohan' in my game."
