Arsenal: Xabi Alonso Revelation Economically Damning

Xabi Alonso has stated that Arsenal were £3 million away from signing him. The revelation is damning to Arsene Wenger’s economic principles.

Throughout his tenure at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger has had the displeasure of missing out on major top names. Most recently, he revealed details of the infamous £40 million and £1 bid for Luis Suarez that fell on somewhat rocky ground. However, that is far from the only failed mover.

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Perhaps the most famous of these missed shots is Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Early in his esteemed career, Wenger was a keen admirer of the Swede’s talents and tried, and failed, on numerous occasions to bring his services to North London.

Now, though, it seems that not just Zlatan, Luis Suarez et al are those who Wenger has failed to sign. After announcing his retirement earlier this season, Xabi Alonso, as is accustom, has undertaken a series of interviews discussing many of the major events of his illustrious career. In his latest interview with the Liverpool Echo, the former Liverpool midfielder revealed how, when Rafa Benitez was wanting to sell him, Arsenal came within £3 million of signing him, before he subsequently departed for Real Madrid:

"“Yeah, he [Benitez] was open. He showed me his cards – very clearly. I said to him: ‘Of course, Rafa, I accept this. You are the one that has made the decision’. But in the end, nothing happened. I was really close to Juventus and close to Arsenal, but Liverpool were asking for £18m, and they were both offering £15m! So that’s why it didn’t happen.”"

It is yet another stick with which the growing number of Wenger detractors will use to beat him with. And fairly so. Wenger is renowned for his economic principles, with which he makes every decision by. This is another example of where the money has dictated the choice that was made.

The £3 million extra that was required to sign Alonso is – admittedly the gift of hindsight is a wonderful thing for a writer – is a minuscule amount to differ over. And yet, Wenger’s approach in the transfer window has always been that he will stick to the value that he believes the player is worth and will never pay more than that, however little the difference may be.

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While that is an admirable approach in the increasingly rash and uncontrolled world of modern football, it is a tactic that has held back Arsenal significantly. Missing Alonso is yet more proof to show that Wenger must change his transfer policy.