A footballing icon who played over 100 times for Arsenal once feared he had given manager Steve Bruce after revealing his fondness for lap dancing clubs
Arsenal legend Nicklas Bendtner was once afraid he had given his former boss Steve Bruce a heart attack.
Bendtner, who turned 37 last week, gave fans an insight into his lavish and mad lifestyle when he was playing in England. The Danish striker prominently played for Arsenal where he made 171 appearances for the north London side.
Across his time with the Gunners, Bendtner went out on two loans to other English sides, Birmingham City and Sunderland, where he would play under Steve Bruce for both of them.
In the Dane’s autobiography, he outlined his feelings towards his former boss stating that Bruce looked after him more than any other manager. He also opened up on how honest the pair were with each other – sometimes too honest for the Manchester United legend.
Bendtner details the moment he was asked by Bruce if rumours of him visiting lap dancing clubs four times a week were true. They weren’t true, as the Dane told his manager he actually went five times.
“Bruce stiffens,” he said. “First he needs to make sure I have said what I have just said. He opens his mouth but no sounds comes out.
“Perhaps he’s having a heart attack. He begins to splutter and ends up with his head on his desk. Roaring with laughter.”
The now Blackpool manager seemed speechless. It wasn’t the first time he had been informed about Bendtner’s crazy lifestyle – Bruce had attempted to help his striker when he was told the Arsenal icon was spending £100k in one night at the casino.
Bendtner continued to write: “Looking back now, I’m ashamed, I try tons of things others can only dream of and don’t really appreciate it for what it is.”