Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he would have signed Angel Di Maria at 17-years-old if not for work permit issues.
The Arsenal manager is frustrated by the limits on bringing foreign youngsters to the Premier League as it cost him the chance to sign the now-Manchester United midfielder.
The Argentina international midfielder joined Manchester United from Real Madrid for a British-record €75 million but came close to a move to north London in 2007 before leaving Rosario Central for Benfica instead.
And as Wenger faces a battle to ensure that Villarreal defender Gabriel Paulista can move to England if a deal is completed, he feels that the "politically correct" work permit system should be left behind.
"Ideally it would be to open it completely: anyone can come in," he told reporters. "At the moment, we are in a position where they force you to spend money on a player who sometimes you have identified.
"We had identified Di Maria when he was 17. We wanted him to come here but he goes to Portugal and from Portugal he goes to Spain. Why? Because he could not get a work permit. That means that he can only come to England once he's worth a huge amount of money.
"What does it mean if, at the end of the day, he comes into the country anyway, with the only difference being it's for a huge amount of money? And who do you pay that to? A club like Real Madrid, who don't need the money."
Wenger's hopes of securing a deal for Gabriel are "50-50" as he seeks cover for a stretched back line, with Arsenal fifth in the Premier League.
No comments:
Post a Comment