Earlier this week, we relayed news from Spain that Barcelona are looking for an experienced left-back and Arsenal’s Nacho Monreal had emerged as one of the targets.
Today’s edition of Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo claims the La Liga winners were ‘very interested’ in signing the Gunners’ fullback and Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta in 2007, when they were at Osasuna.
Monreal moved to Malaga in 2011 before he was signed by the north London club in 2013, while his compatriot left the Spanish side and spent two years at Marseille from 2010 to 2012 prior to his switch to Stamford Bridge.
The Emirates club’s defender is still on the radar of the Blaugrana, more than a decade after their failed efforts in signing him.
Monreal’s current deal with Unai Emery’s side will run down after the end of the season and, the 32-year-old’s employer have an option of further extending his contract by a year.
Mundo claims Arsenal will take that option in order to keep the fullback at the club until 2020.
