This season, we’ve seen a couple of reports saying Arsenal are still interested in Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli.
It’s well known that the Gunners’ pursuit for the player isn’t new, but this chase was said to remain strong, with the Gunners even looking to try to sign him in January this year.
It turns out that Locatelli already had the chance to join Arsenal in a further past, and that’s now revealed by his brother.
Mattia Locatelli was interviewed by LacasadiC, and recalling the midfielder’s career, he pointed out the possibilities he had on the table when he left Sassuolo for Juventus in the summer of 2021.
“I still remember the negotiation. For him it was very long. There was also Arsenal, but he wanted Juventus,” said Mattia Locatelli (via Calciomercato).
“The clubs kept meeting, but without reaching an agreement. Every day I looked at the Gazzetta to check. In Sassuolo he trained separately, in him the desire to move. A real emotion. On the day of his debut, he sent us a photo with the shirt and the words ‘I made it’.”
Locatelli’s brother also said the player ‘loves’ playing for Juventus, and that’s a pretty good sign that the midfielder is happy at the club.
However, Arsenal’s pursuit continues to be a topic of conversation, so it would be no surprise to see more links about this chase in the future, especially with the Gunners becoming a more attractive destination now that they are top of the Premier League under Mikel Arteta.
