Villarreal manager Marcelino has admitted he had to let Arnaut Danjuma leave this summer, as the player was desperate for minutes after his miserable loan spells at Everton and Tottenham.
Estadio Deportivo cover comments from the Spanish boss today and the subject of Danjuma, who was allowed to leave to join Girona at the end of the window.
That ‘raised suspicions’ given the timing, and the fact that the Dutchman had played in three games and scored two goals for Villarreal already.
Some fans of the Spanish side believe they have weakened themselves unnecessarily, particularly given Danjuma had returned from his loan spell at Everton and shown a willingness to battle for his place again.
Marcelino, though, admits he couldn’t guarantee the forward minutes, which is what he wanted after barely featuring for Everton and Tottenham in the last 18 months.
“I have no complaints about Danjuma. None. Quite the opposite,” he said.
“From the first day he showed an extraordinary willingness to work. We always had a sincere and close dialogue.
“But he understood that this year was very important for him. And I told him ‘look, I can’t guarantee that you’ll always be a starter; but what I’m going to ask of you is that if you’re a starter, you have to behave the same as if you’re not, both at work and at human relations level’.
“I couldn’t promise him that he would play 90 minutes. Given that he considered that this season, after two not very good experiences, was very important for him, he left. That’s what happened. There was a closeness that I appreciate.”
The question is whether Danjuma can get the minutes he wants at Girona this season to get back on track.
He’s yet to properly establish himself there either but will be hoping to be given more of a chance to do so than he ever was at Everton and Tottenham.
Both of those clubs seemed to decide against him quite early on leading to frustrating loan spells and that has ultimately sent his career backwards.
