Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal is living a renwed Spanish international life under manager Julen Lopetegui. Whilst Vincente del Bosque gave the footballer his international debut, Monreal had been somewhat in the wilderness for a while.
Lopetegui called Monreal up to cover injury during the last international break and must have been impressed with the Arsenal player because he’s in the main squad this time, the same as what happened with Manchester United’s Ander Herrera.
“I’m very happy. Malaga was very difficult to leave because people treated me great and I lived well. But when a team like Arsenal calls you do not think.
“The beginning was very hard, I struggled to acclimatise. It was another country, another city, another language, another culture, another football… suppose it was starting from scratch. In that sense I am a player who has trouble fitting it. It has always happened to me. I suffered a lot, but I have been settled and I am delighted.”
There’s now no talk of Monreal being off to Athletic Club Bilbao soon, with him an important part of Arsene Wenger’s set-up.
Marca asked Monreal what he thought about Mesut Ozil’s goal in the Champions League, to which he replied: “We talk about a top player, who wants to do what he wants when he wants. At a technical level he is one of the best in the world.”
