Shkodran Mustafi moved to Arsenal in the summer, after a mini saga which from the outside looked more complicated than it needed to be.
Arsenal needed a defender, and Valencia needed the money. Mustafi fit the bill, and his previous experience in England with Everton would make settling in that little bit easier.
The Premier League club ended up paying a little more than many thought they would have to, and German magazine SportBild has put it to Mustafi that his €41m fee makes him the second most expensive German footballer, after Mesut Ozil and Leroy Sane.
Mustafi told SportBild: “I wanted Arsenal, everything else was negotiated between the clubs. Of course this is an incredible sum. And I know what a burden that can bring. Some people live on €200 t0 €300m a month. Especially in my second home in Gostivar. But I couldn’t influence this. So I push it far out of my head.”
Mustafi’s arrival has presented further competition to Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker, with it being increasingly expected the defender will be leaving the club in one of the next two transfer windows.
SportBild asked Mustafi about the competition for places, to which he replied: “I dislike the word competitor. Per is my teammate and friend. He helped me in the first few weeks immensely. Above all, he gave me lots of advice before the games, even how I had to behave on the pitch. If he is healthy again, I’m just happy.”
