Arnesen: I offered Bendtner regular football but he wanted Champions League

Frank Arnesen, sporting director at Hamburg, has been speaking about how he tried to lure Nicklas Bendtner to the German club over the summer before the striker opted for a loan move to Juventus where he could enjoy Champions League football [from the bench]. Speaking with Tipsbladet, Arnesen said
I called Arsenal and they said that he [Bendtner] could easily get permission to go. I said that we would only loan him but it was no problem, we could talk about it.
I called Thomas Bendtner and afterwards Nicklas and I spoke with him for a long time. I told him about our plans, and I said it would be good for him to take a step back so that he could later take two steps forward. I told him I could not offer European football but the Bundesliga is strong and Nicklas would not come under pressure because he would be one of the key players on the...