Arsenal Missed Opportunity to Secure £100 Million Real Madrid Player
The Arsenal badge at the Emirates stadium (Photo by AMA/Corbis via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Missed Opportunity: How Fede Valverde Almost Joined the Gunners
Real Madrid has earned a reputation for identifying and signing young talents from around the globe, and players like Vinicius Jr, Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, and Rodrygo are prime examples. These young talents have become regular starters under Carlo Ancelotti when fit and available.
However, in the case of Federico Valverde, things could have taken a drastically different turn, with the Uruguayan midfielder potentially ending up at Arsenal.
Real Madrid secured Valverde’s signature in 2016 when they signed him from Penarol. Over the years, he has steadily climbed the ranks to become one of the most highly-rated midfielders in the world, coveted by nearly every top club in Europe.
Surprisingly, as reported by Metro, a year before his move to Real Madrid, Valverde was given the opportunity to trial with Arsenal. Nevertheless, the North London club ultimately decided not to pursue a deal with Penarol.
This decision by Arsenal means that they missed out on the chance to sign a player who is now valued at over £100 million and a pivotal figure in the Real Madrid midfield. Valverde’s story joins the list of ‘what if’ scenarios for Arsenal, including other missed opportunities like Cristiano Ronaldo, N’Golo Kante, Eden Hazard, and more.
Despite the fierce competition in Real Madrid’s midfield, Valverde has established himself as a crucial part of the team. It remains to be seen if he will maintain regular starts throughout the season, having begun the campaign as a starter in the first three games and appearing as a substitute against Getafe.
