23 September 2023 , 19:03
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USMNT mainstay Matt Turner says a conversation with Steve Cooper and the seal of approval from his wife convinced him to leave Arsenal for Nottingham Forest.
The 29-year-old failed to make a league appearance during his only campaign with the Gunners after failing to shake Aaron Ramsdale from his starting berth. When David Raya arrived in the summer, his chances of becoming Mikel Arteta's number one goalkeeper reduced further.
Now, Turner has explained how Forest manager Cooper made him feel wanted following the disappointment of his debut term in North London. Speaking to The Athletic, the former MLS stopper divulged how a move to the City Ground even received the seal of approval of his wife.
Having noticed her husband's delight during his phone call with the Reds head coach, she gave him the nod to indicate that Forest was the right club for him. Unwilling to give up on his dream of establishing himself in England, he soon sealed his move to the Midlands.
Speaking to The Athletic, Turner explained: "I asked a lot of questions about what they saw in me; about why they felt I was a good fit here. Those conversations ticked every box when it came to what I wanted to hear.
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"My wife was listening in and, when we finished the call, she gave me the nod of approval. She could see it in my face and I felt good about it. Even when other teams came in, I had tunnel vision - I knew this was the place I wanted to be."
So far, he has made five appearances in the Premier League for his new employers, with early signs indicating that he is Cooper's first-choice. That is despite Turner facing stern competition from former Benfica goalkeeper and Greece regular Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Turner's wife gave a nod of approval for the goalkeeper to move (Instagram)
Turner is married to ex-NFL cheerleader Ashley Herron (Instagram)After struggling to settle the Emirates Stadium, Turner has not been disappointed following his initial phone call with the Forest manager either.
He added: "I love the way he relates to players. He gets in on the conversations in the changing room. He is just a ‘Tells you like it is’ manager, which is really refreshing for a lot of guys - you know what you are going to get with him."
"You can see his adaptability from game to game, along with his willingness to trust players. They are all really good qualities. He has done an excellent job. It is not just the way the players respect him, you can see it from the fans as well."