Velez Sarsfield Sporting Director Christian Bassedas has admitted that keeping hold of midfielder Ricardo Alvarez is “impossible” as Arsenal look set to complete their first signing of a potential busy summer. Sarsfield told TyC Sports yesterday evening:
“It is impossible for him not to go, we cannot retain him. There are offers that are [irrefutable]… not just because of the figure, but if Arsenal come, well… then you have to tell the player ‘look, you deserve it’. Ricky has a lot to win.”
Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini had already conceded defeat in the race to sign Alvarez, revealing that he believes that the move to Arsenal is already a done deal. Talking to Italian radio station Radio Kiss Kiss, Zamparini said:
“We did have a concrete bid for Alvarez and had him in our grasp back in January… Unfortunately, we didn’t complete the move in time, so we lost him to Arsenal. At this moment he has already signed for the Gunners.”
It is believed that the transfer fee will be in the region of around £11/12 million. Apparently this deal looked like being finalised last month, as we mentioned on Straight Talking Gooners, but Velez (who play in the Argentinean Primera division) stalled because they were unhappy with the transfer fee – an issue which has since been resolved.
At 6″2′ (roughly the same height as Abou Diaby), Alvarez has a strong physical presence. As I mentioned the other day, this is something that we are significantly lacking in midfield. However, he is not as well known for his goalscoring ability as I had hoped for. 4 goals in 29 games for Velez Sarsfield last season is hardly outstanding, and I wonder how well he will cope in the Premier League. That said, I really hope that he proves me wrong.
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25 Comments
Plis wenger sign etoo is a star.
Wenger do not wnt to signed player
you can count on this guy, from what i’ve seen, this 2 footed genius is the real replacement for pires.
You are right, you made me realise to the Pires similarities and definitely this is a welcome move. If he is even half as good as Pires, he will be classed as a success story.
i’m pleased 2 hear this if it is true! Is a welcome development.
Alvarez signing is a great deal hoping that more signing will be made soon. UP GOONERS
don’t get to excited gooners , naz is going so is fab ,not worried that much about are shity left back, we hope a few more are on there way …no names needed…we sign a league 1 kid who has hardly played for charlton.. and we are the only club in for this guy apart from a small club from the lower half of a poooooor serie A … SAME OLD STORY..
thanks 2 wenges 4 bringing alverez but rvp ned srong man like him in forward let thinking of venzema or e.too
Mate you can spell for shit and it’s annoying to read from clowns like you. Stay off our forums with your disgusting English. You make me want to be a teacher. Seriously who is Venzema?
Looking at d video clip of this young lad he looks exciting and i think he will be a good signing 4 arsenal
I tell u what, i have seen him play and i hope we sign him because he is such an exciting player. He is an excellent dribbler, great and the ball and moves very well for someone his height. He is a very direct player always looking to take players on. I don’t think he is any less of a player than nasri or fabregas. I hope we sign him.
Wenger thanks for signing alvarez and you need to sign strong player like him at the attacking. Players like gerviho or eto’o
Arsenal need to sign a strong defender and a qualified migfielder that will replace cesc with a striker like bojan or osaze
it realy exciting to here this only if it is true.i believe ricardo can add up dat dept in our central midfield
Well done wenger, let’s get a couple more in at least now…
It good to hear that Ricardo Alvarez is to Arsenal which i have never see him play football. Hope is better player for the wenger is building for the past six year. Pls you people should stop telling us lie, make the of gooner news to be more reliable! Gunners4life…!
Well done wenger
he a good and excellent
Arsene plz sign eto for us we need a sharp experienced striker like him he will deliver a lot for us all defenders will surely scare to face him plz and plz sign this guy for gunner fans
Wenger pls sign a gud defender like samba or cahill and sell squilach and bendtner
he is a wonderful player
well,if dis is true,of which i am not sure it is already a done deal,because if it is the i would have seen it on arsenal.com, well in addition to the squad, pls add samba and gervinho…pls Arsen pls
I believe if Arsenal do sign Samba, Cahill, Fellaini and Benzema, we will easily win the premier league and I can go as far as even suggest we can make it to the champions league final. Height and strength is all we lack but technical ability, we are full of it so wenger please get some powerful players in there. Come on you gooners!!
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Up gooners. I pray he signed these three first and keep what we have at hand the likes of nasri, cesc, gael and if any want to go the likes of ben, del, rosicky aluminia they should go