Federico Valverde: The Arsenal move that almost happened
Federico Valverde, Real Madrid’s midfield star, has made a curious revelation about his near miss with Arsenal. The Uruguayan international, who has become as one of the best players in his position, said on TikTok that he was on the verge of wearing the Arsenal jersey.
Valverde’s surprise is reminiscent of a trial he had with the North London club under legendary manager Arsene Wenger. However, Arsenal ultimately chose not to sign him, and he soon found himself a new home in the Spanish capital.
Valverde reflected on his brief stint at Arsenal, noting the importance of former Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez on his growth during his time there.
“I have always been grateful to him,” Valverde said about Sanchez ahead of the World Cup qualifiers between Chile and Uruguay in September.
“When I went to train at Arsenal, Alexis was there and he was one of the few who came up to help me.
“I will always be grateful to him because, being a nobody, I was well-received by him. He was there to help me when I was a kid. As a footballer, he is an incredible player.”
This revelation adds Valverde to the list of top-tier players that missed Arsenal during the Wenger era. Following his debut in the 2018-19 season, the midfielder has amassed a remarkable record since joining Real Madrid from Penarol in 2016. He has won two La Liga titles and a Champions League trophy while adding 19 goals and 18 assists in 215 games.
While Wenger’s time at Arsenal saw numerous promising talents, including Gianluigi Buffon, Gerard Pique, Gareth Bale, and others, it’s a monument to the unpredictable nature of football’s transfer market. Valverde’s path to greatness finally led him to Real Madrid, but the “what if” situations will continue to fascinate Arsenal fans.
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