Arsenal's Petit says he will consider offers from Europe

Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has confirmed he wants to leave the Premiership club with Real Madrid and SS Lazio keen to sign the French World Cup winner.

Petit signed for the London club in 1997 and helped them to the domestic league and cup double in 1998. He has been linked with a move to Italy or Spain for more than a year and has frequently spoken of his frustration at regular disciplinary problems that have damaged his career with the London club.

Real Madrid have regarded Petit as a suitable signing for the past year and SS Lazio and Inter led Italian interest in the midfielder who is an almost certain starter at Euro 2000 for the French squad. He has complained recently about the physical demands on English football and compared the Premiership game to 'rollerball' in an outburst two months ago. The Frenchman experienced difficulty adjusting to the game at Arsenal but has become one of the central figures in the club's midfield offering good passes and valuable protection for the club's back line. The Londoners have already lined up a replacement for Petit in Real Mallorca's Cameroon international Laurent and Petit told reporters yesterday as he prepared for Euro 2000 and a friendly against Croatia tomorrow in Zagreb that he would listen to offers from other clubs.

Italian champions Lazio and new European Cup holders Real would need to bid at least £8 million to sign the 27 year old.