Why PL star rejected Arsenal despite their strong financial offer, Arteta & Berta told him he’d play plenty games
Arsenal presented a strong financial offer and broad pitch that demonstrated their determination and commitment to signing Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen, according to The Athletic.
Gunners manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta also provided assurances that the 20-year-old would get plenty of game time at the Emirates Stadium club despite the presence of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
However, other clubs that competed for the services of Huijsen questioned its possibility given the form and quality of the duo.
Real Madrid pipped Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle United and Chelsea to the Spain international even though they were also willing to activate the £50 million release clause in his contract.
The soon-to-be new manager, Xabi Alonso, requested that the La Liga club sign Huijsen, and the move was a dream come true for the youngster as he had desired to join them for years.
Arsenal and other Premier League clubs had no chance once it became clear Madrid were willing to sign him, and he is expected to feature heavily for them at the Club World Cup in the United States next month.
He will earn less than £100,000 per week in Spain, and while the Gunners would have matched the offer or even given him slightly more, they were not as appealing as Madrid.
Huijsen is almost guaranteed to be a starter at Madrid, but that is not assured at the North London club despite the promise of regular playing time Arteta and Berta gave him.
They will now look elsewhere for defensive reinforcements, but missing out on the youngster would have left them disappointed, given his huge potential and quality.
Bournemouth paid Juventus £13m to sign Huijsen last summer and were the only Premier League team seriously interested in him, and missing out on him should teach Arsenal a lesson or two about taking the punt on unpopular talents in Europe going forward.
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