3 players Arsene Wenger scouted extensively but failed to land them at Arsenal
Arsene Wenger is in the middle of one of the most important transfer windows in Arsenal’s recent history as the manager is desperate to keep hold of players, who are not ready to extend their stay at the Emirates. He will not only have to find replacements for star players who might depart but will also have to work hard on improving the overall quality of the squad.
This has seen a number of star players get linked with a move to Arsenal but the Gunners have previously failed to land their top transfer targets on a number of occasions. Arsene Wenger has always had a keen eye for talents and has scouted some of the best players in Europe in the past. However, he has not been able to land most of those names and here are three of the best players Wenger extensively scouted but failed to bring to London:
Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)
The French international is easily one of the most effective CBs in the game at the moment and was on Arsenal’s radar back in 2013 when he signed for Real Madrid.
“He was at Lens, and we might well have caught him there,” Wenger said, talking to the media after Real managed to sign him.
Wenger has had to settle for the likes of Shkodran Mustafi but Arsenal reportedly wanted Varane in 2011, when he was just 18 and Wenger will definitely rue missing out on his signature.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Another Galactico that Wenger claims that he almost signed is Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. The former Manchester United man is easily one of the best players to have ever played the game and was wanted by Arsenal even before Manchester United decided to spend on him.
“He was very close to coming here,” Wenger said in 2014. He has a No. 9 shirt with Ronaldo on the back from Arsenal Football Club,” Wenger said after United completed a deal for his signature.
Carlos Queiroz played a role in this move and Arsenal would have been a bigger superpower had they managed to sign Ronaldo.
Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
It is not a secret that Arsene Wegner wanted to dip into the La Masia academy to improve his squad back in 2003. He managed to land one of the best midfielders in Cesc Fabregas but Wenger also wanted the likes of Gerard Pique and Lionel Messi and was close to signing them as well. Messi’s family and their needs may have scampered the deal but Wenger said,
“It was not completely down to a flat in the end, it was down to the fact that Messi was comfortable at Barcelona,” claiming he would have had Messi playing for his club.
What a signing he would have been for Arsenal!