On Tuesday, we covered an article relating to Arsenal’s and Manchester United’s interest in Valentin Antov.
The 20-year-old centre-back was signed by Bologna late in the transfer window on a loan with a view to buy at €3.5m that should be easily made compulsory, but the Italian media explained both the Gunners and the Red Devils were after him.
However, with a contract at CSKA Sofia expiring in 2022, the pair and other big clubs interested were waiting until the summer to make their move, which backfired.
Bologna moved first and lured the defender in January, a move which he described as a ‘once in a life time possibility’ in terms relayed by Corriere dello Sport, where he wants to develop as a centre-back in a league made for that.
As for the interest from the Premier League, it appears Arsenal and Manchester United never stood a chance in the player’s eyes anyways, because of the latest rules.
He said: “It isn’t possible to go to England anymore because of Brexit. Now I’m only interested in Bologna”.
Capable of playing the ball out, having played in midfield in the past, Antov is now fully focused on making a name for himself in Italy, which could then, perhaps, allow him to look elsewhere down the line.
Whether that means he ends up at Arsenal or Manchester United, only time will tell, but it seems he’ll have to accrue some points first if he wants to get his work permit.
