Arsenal new boy Pepe nearly lost career over stolen chocolate bar

ARSENAL are about to complete the blockbuster signing of Nicolas Pepe - but the winger almost lost his football career over a CHOCOLATE BAR.

The £72million star, who was today pictured in North London with a Gunners goody bag, took a topsy-turvy route to the Emirates.

Pepe's career may have panned out very differently if he stuck to his first position.

While at amateur club FC Paris Solitaires Est, Pepe played in goal for a whole season as the club didn't have anyone else.

Guy Fraineau, president of the club told Bleacher Report: "He was just as good in goal as he was on the pitch."

Poitiers FC were a tiny club, in the French fifth tier at the time he joined, and although scouts would be along to watch the winger every weekend, none were willing to take a chance on him.

Then-sporting director Philippe Leclerc told Bleacher Report: "We had recruiters at Poitiers every weekend and they never approached him. Never.

"Because he was a bit willowy, with his long legs. You could see that he had good technique, but he didn't correspond to the criteria that the [professional] clubs were looking for."

Leclerc also believed his attitude at that time put some scouts off.

"He also had an attitude that was a bit casual," he added.

"People thought he was inconsistent or that he was lazy in certain situations. Everything seemed so simple with Nico.

"And that's why he slacked off every now and again."

But Leclerc managed to get Pepe a move, convincing a friend - head coach Staphane Moulin - at Angers to take the chance.

Academy chief Abdel Bouhazama has been arguably the man most crucial in Pepe's rise to the top.

The winger earlier this year admitted to France Football: "If I hadn't run into him, I might not be where I am today."

Bouhazama's first port of call was to tell the talented teen to get rid of an extravagant blond Mohawk - although it would later come back as an adult.

"He played football like he was playing with his mates, as if he was playing against the side of a building or at school," Bouhazama told Bleacher Report.

Pepe's time at the academy was not without drama - although his performances on the pitch were excellent, he could be disruptive off it.

There were complaints from teachers and late-night phone calls from the living quarters.

Pepe and a group of team-mates had been walking around a supermarket and stole a bar of chocolate, eating it without paying.

They were caught by the security guard as they tried to leave.

Pepe would make his first-team debut for Angers in 2014, aged 18, enjoy an impressive loan spell at Orleans in the third tier, before returning to Angers after they reached promotion to Ligue 1.

Lille were early admirers, finding Pepe by chance.

Sporting director Luis Campos had been at an Angers game to watch a Rennes player, but couldn't take his eyes off of the rangy winger.

"I quickly fell in love with him," the former Real Madrid scout told France Football.

Marcelo Bielsa, now Leeds manager, signed Pepe with one live viewing enough to convince the Argentine.

Pepe was moved back to the wing and saved the club from relegation almost on his own, scoring eight goals and adding five assists in the final 14 games of the 2017-18 season.

Last season he has been even better - Lille finished second behind PSG, with Pepe's 22 goals trailing only Kylian Mbappe (32) and his 11 assists behind only Teji Savanier (13).

Galtier says only Neymar and Mbappe have more potential in Ligue 1 than Pepe.

"He amazes me, he amazes us," his manager said in February, "He's certain to become a world class player because he knows how to do everything.

"He doesn't need an intermediate step.

"After the great season he's having with us, he can go straight to a Champions League club."

Arsenal may not be a Champions League club this season... but with Pepe, it may not be long until they return.