Reports today are that Mata's representatives are in London to broker a deal with Arsenal for Juan Mata. Along with the necessary pinch of salt that comes with any tabloid story, the Mirror are really pushing this one, so there could be something to it. Also it was mooted a few days ago that if Barca can't meet our £40m value of Cesc, then a cash plus player deal could be on the cards, with Thiago Alcântara mentioned. He scored a brilliant curling goal for Barca last night and looks as though he could fit right in at Arsenal. Would you be happy if these events materialised ?
John Cross the Mirror journalist is an Arsenal fan and apparently he is meant to be close to people at the club.If so there could be truth in this story
Would prefer to sign Mata as a replacement for Nasri and keep Cesc..................However that is unlikely.
If these two deals come off as above, plus samba or similar then I would be a fairly happy gooner. Nasri Out for hazard (as Nasri has really annoyed me this year) and I would consider that to be an excellent transfer window. Cherry on the top would be bendtner leaving to be replaced by benzema but we cant have everything...
We need to play hardball with Barca. If they want Cesc they need to PAY UP. He's our team Captain still only 24 and in the current market is worth at least £40 Million. If Barca are willing to pay £37 Million plus Eto'o for Ibrahimovic or £35 Million for Sanchez they can get another loan out for Mr Fabregas. I still hope we keep him but I'll be really pissed off if we let another key player go on the cheap.
Do we really want Thiago? Another Barca teenager who'll want to move back home after a few years. No thanks.
Is Thiago actually Spanish? Plus, you need to upgrade your team, get some more experience and depth... Mata is tres bien
Thiago's was actually born in Italy but has played for all of Spain's youth teams so he may as well be Spanish. Though I'm sure they'd all say he's got barca DNA if they ever wanted him back.
He is got Brazilian ancestors, too. Marzinho, part of the 1994 World Cup winning Brazilian team, is his father. But I agree with the second part. They would want him back one day anyway. But I don't know how Cesc would fit into their team at this moment. And the way they dealt with Roma regarding Bojan, I would never agree to that: They sold him for 12 Million Euros to Roma and have a buy-back clause for 2013 for 13 Million Euros. But if Roma refuse to let him go back for 13 Million Euros, the Italians have to cough up an additional 28(!) Million Euros and only then they can have Bojan permanently. And they really expect to get away with ~£30m offer for someone like Fabregas... Juan Mata on the other hand, could be realistic and help us straightaway.
A little wary of all things mirror related tbh, but juan mata would make a fine addition if it were to happen.
Spot on. Barca can feck right off. We're not their training academy and this whole deal smacks of just that. Look at the way they've treated Roma with Bojan... Not a club I'd want to do business with.
