Arsenal
Spaniard Confirms Arsenal Offer
Spanish full-back Juanfran has revealed that he turned down a lucrative offer to join Arsenal in the summer in favour of staying at current club Atletico Madrid
Despite the summer transfer window being closed there is still plenty of gossip in the newspapers, so we’ll keep you up to date on all the latest transfer news. Today, Juanfran claims he turned down the chance to join Arsenal.
Spanish full-back Juanfran has revealed that he turned down a lucrative offer to join Arsenal in the summer in favour of staying at Atletico Madrid, according to the Express.
The 28-year-old joined Atletico from Osasuna in 2011 and has gone on to become an important first team player, making 94 appearances so far with his impressive displays at right-back earning him a place in the Spain squad for the 2012 European Championships.
Arsenal were heavily linked with a move for Juanfran – full name Juan Francisco Torres – throughout the summer with boss Arsene Wenger said to be keen on strengthening his options at the back.
However, a move failed to materialise and the player has now revealed that he spurned the chance to make a big money move to the Emirates as he had no desire to leave the Vicente Calderon.
“It is true that I had an offer from Arsenal that any player would have liked to have accepted,”
“But I am very happy here.
“For me, as everyone knows, there is no better club than Atletico.” Juanfran is quoted as saying in the Express.
With the likes of Johan Djourou and Sebastian Squillaci leaving the club this summer, a new defender appeared to be on the agenda for Arsenal. Many thought a centre-back would be the priority but with Bacary Sagna impressing in the middle, Wenger seemed to turn his attention to bringing in competition for Carl Jenkinson at right-back.
But despite Wenger’s best efforts to land a new full-back, with Juanfran seemingly one of the players approached, no new defender was brought in so we’re going to have to make do with what we have until January at least.
Thankfully, with Thomas Vermaelen and Nacho Monreal now back to full fitness, we have few injury worries at the back so lets hope this continues to be the case over the coming weeks or we could end up regretting not bringing in another defender in the summer.
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