http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2013/02/02/3720515/friends-reunited-monreal-follows-azpilicuetas-path-to-london
I know this articles is from Goal. Which to many, often myself, makes it invalid.
But it is interesting to here that we were looking to purchase him last summer, and that he was likely to come anyway this summer. The suggestion is he is not a panic buy; like Spurs with Holtby, we brought a potential move forward because it made sense to. Admittedly, ours was more out of desperation than their's, but it is reassuring that he was a long term target. Even talk to say that he is going to replace Kieran for the meanwhile, even when Gibbo is fit.
Also, the articles says that the guy has been learning English since the summer. If this is true, it seems dodgy and slightly disloyal, but equally it would show he is keen to play for us.
Nacho Monreal. Our solitary signing in a January we had to sign. On the face of it, a disappointing window. Yet it looks like we have signed a proper player, and not just gone and signed a full back from a Turkish team demoted to the second league...
Mr Monreal
posted on 2/2/13
Why is ours more out of desperation?
They lose Sandro, they pay out a fee for a player they were getting on a free in the summer.
We lose Gibbs, we pay the same amount for a player we were getting in the summer.
posted on 2/2/13
Also, the articles says that the guy has been learning English since the summer. If this is true, it seems dodgy and slightly disloyal, but equally it would show he is keen to play for us.
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Disloyal? He was coming to us anyway. The disloyal thing was joining Arsenal, not being prepared for when it happened.
posted on 2/2/13
i have to say, had anyone heard of this guy before?, as I posted earlier, he does look fairly decent.
i'd like to see him on the left and Jenky on the right, I think we would score a lot more goals.
posted on 2/2/13
He's very well thought of in Spain. Ranked at a similar level to Jordi Alba, who obviously is an immense leftback.
Apparently Chelsea were keen on the player, but having links with Arteta and Santi, the player had ambitions to play at Arsenal. I've heard that initially Arsenal were going to try and sign the player in the summer regardless.
Got to feel sorry for Malaga though, their chairman has failed to pay the clubs debts and they've had no choice to accept bids for their best players.
posted on 2/2/13
9 caps for Spain suggest he has been heard of before...
I never really noticed him when I have seen Malaga, but I was always more interested in players like Santi, Isco and the other attackers.
posted on 2/2/13
I might not know much about the guy, but I'm pretty sure the title of this article should be 'Señor Monreal'.