There was a brief period back in 2007 where it looked like Arsenal were going to sign Trésor Mputu from TP Mazembe in DR Congo.
The forward, who has spent all but two years of his career with the club (he moved to Angola at Kabuscorp SC between 2014-16), spent a couple of months on trial with the Gunners, who were impressed enough to try and bring him in.
Unfortunately for the now 34-year-old, the transfer never materialised, and in an Instagram Live video, he explained what happened on behind the scenes, giving the reasons why the move fell through.
Relayed by La Prospérité, he said: “I’d spent two months in London training with Arsenal alongside Adebayor and many others, and they rated me. Then, the president [of TP Mazembe], Moïse Katumbi, came to discuss with the English club’s board, and he went back immediately.
“I wasn’t told what they had spoken about. It’s only later that I learned Arsenal didn’t try and pay a lot. Arsène Wenger called me, confirming this information, to tell me that if a player comes from Africa, you always buy him for less and then percentages make it up afterwards. The next day, Mazembe’s accountant would tell me that the president said we needed to go back”.
Perhaps Arsenal weren’t prepared to take a huge gamble on Mputu, but it left the player in the lurch, as he never managed to make it to football in Europe.
Attempts to sign for both Anderlecht in Belgium and Lille in France also fell through, meaning he has stayed with Mazembe for most of his career.
The lack of European football didn’t stop him from having a decent run at international level, however, as the forward managed to gather 44 caps for DR Congo, scoring 14 goals along the way.
