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‘From what I hear’: Ornstein says Unai Emery tried to sign ‘exceptional’ Arsenal player just before deadline
Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery tried to bring Hector Bellerin to Villarreal just before the transfer deadline.
Journalist David Ornstein told that the Champions League semi-finalists came in late to try and sign the defender.
The right-back eventually ended up joining Barcelona, the club where he came through the ranks on a late free transfer.
He says that the reason the saga rumbled on all summer is that Arsenal wanted a transfer fee but none of the potential suitors were prepared to pay one.
Emery tried to sign Bellerin from Arsenal
Ornstein said: “He felt his future did not lie at Arsenal and it was about how a move was going to come about. Arsenal wanted to receive a transfer fee for him, which is why it didn’t happen until now.
“They thought there was still some value there. The teams who showed most interest would obviously take on his salary but not that transfer fee. Edu was holding out for that.
“It was then about whether they could terminate the contract. The way the negotiations went with Barcelona was a free transfer which allows Arsenal to retain a 25 per cent sell-on clause.
“Now people may say he’s only signed a year-long contract, so when are they going to sell him? Villarreal did show up late doors from what I hear, but Barcelona was the direction of travel.”
Mikel Arteta has called Bellerin ‘exceptional‘, and clearly retains huge respect for him as a person and a player, and respected his wishes in terms of moving on.
Arsenal have not been able to get fees for many of their outgoing players during the Arteta overhaul and they really tried their best to get one here.
They ultimately were not able to do so but they eventually secured the exit of a player who did not want to be there and did not feature in Arteta’s plans.