Arsenal rejected chance to sign 2 Barcelona players as part of swap deal to let first team star join Hansi Flick’s side: Reports
According to a report by El Nacional, Arsenal rejected the chance to swap Gabriel Martinelli for two of Hansi Flick's Barcelona players in the summer transfer window. The north London side have kept their faith in the Brazilian and see him as an untouchable member of their squad.
The Gunners were reportedly offered the chance to sign Ferran Torres and Andreas Christensen from the 2023 LaLiga champions but refused to take the Catalans up on the offer. Torres and Christensen are no strangers to English football, with the duo playing 43 and 161 games for Manchester City and Chelsea, respectively.
The duo was part of the team that won the domestic league under Xavi Hernandez in 2023 but might be available for sale following Hansi Flick's appointment. Gabriel Martinelli, on the other hand, scored 15 and eight goals in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns, respectively. The Gunners finished second to champions Manchester City at the end of both campaigns.
"Whenever you touch them they are on the floor crying like a baby" - When former Arsenal striker blasted Barcelona
Former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor blasted Barcelona for diving and playacting in 2011 after his game against the Catalan side. The striker faced the Spanish giants during his loan stint with Real Madrid and was not impressed by how he perceived Pep Guardiola's team acted.
The retired striker joined Los Blancos on loan from Manchester City in January 2011 for a reported loan fee of €4 million and made 22 appearances for the side, scoring eight goals in the process.
Speaking to the press after a defeat to the Madrid-based club's eternal rivals, the former striker said via talkSPORT:
"Whenever you play against Barca, whenever you touch them, they are on the floor crying like a baby. I have played three games against Barcelona and each time we have had to play with 10 men. Everyone talks about Barcelona and their fair play but I think they are very far away from fair play."
The Togolese striker concluded:
"Whenever you make contact when going for a one-on-one or 50-50 ball they are on the floor crying, putting their hand up near their face. Their manager, fans and the players on the bench are always crying. Don’t get me wrong Barcelona is a fantastic club, they have fantastic players, but they have to stop that."
The former Arsenal striker only won the Copa del Rey with Real Madrid in his six months at the club. The Blaugrana ended that season with the league and European double.