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Arsenal Might Be Receiving Even More Than They Initially Thought For Thomas Vermaelen
With Barcelona’s recent, rather convincing, triumph over Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final they have booked themselves a ticket to face Juventus in the final early next month. It will no doubt be big day for both sides and also neutrals as I personally am salivating (as much as I would have enjoyed seeing Messi shred Ronaldo on such a large scale as the final).
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If recent reports are to be believed, Arsenal fans might want to be cheering on one team in particular and that team happens to reside in Spain. The Daily Mail is reporting that due to a clause in Thomas Vermaelen’s summer transfer to the Nou Camp, if Barcelona win the Champions League Arsenal will be due an additional 3 million pounds.
The news comes as the Belgian has only now began to train with the first team after having his first season in Blaugrana marred by injuries. Thomas Vermaelen’s injury troubles will be of no surprise to the Arsenal faithful as his time in North London was often stop and go due to injuries as well. The interesting thing though, is that Barcelona were aware of the injury upon the signing. Apparently the extent of his frailty was not fully discovered.
Arsenal’s decision to sell the defender is beginning to look even more clever though as a Barcelona victory and the 3 million pounds would see the fee paid by Barcelona rise to 18 million pounds, yes, 18 million.
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This won’t be the first time Arsenal have pulled one over on Barcelona either. Let us not forget the illustrious Barcelona careers of players like Alexandre Song and Aleksandr Hleb. Song and Hleb were sold for 15 million and 11.8 million pounds respectively. For those of you math wizards out there that brings a combined fee of almost 27 million pounds for a combined 58 league appearances between the two and a whopping 1 goal. 1 goal. 1 goal. Sorry even I was astounded writing that (Song scored the goal by the way).
Here’s an even better stat though. If we break down the price Barcelona paid for every minute Alex Song was on the field for them it comes to 5,616 pounds per minute (2,671 minutes played in La Liga for Barcelona). If we do the same math for Thomas Vermaelen it comes to 18 million pounds per minute! Ok, I’m having a bit of fun here, but seriously. It is very realistic, almost likely, that we will have received an 18 million pound fee for a player that has not played a single minute for his new team. When I’m not watching Arsenal I do like Barcelona and even I have to snigger at this one.
This seems to be an uncommon case of things working out for Arsenal in the transfer market and coming from a team that has snatched the likes of Thierry Henry and Cesc Fabregas from us, take a moment to enjoy this one gooners. And don’t forget on June 6th, Visca Barca, Visca Catalunya! Until Next time, #COYG