{"id":295038,"date":"2023-11-25T09:09:49","date_gmt":"2023-11-25T09:09:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/?p=295038"},"modified":"2023-11-25T09:09:49","modified_gmt":"2023-11-25T09:09:49","slug":"real-madrid-star-federico-valverde-explains-why-he-didnt-join-arsenal-at-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/soccer\/real-madrid-star-federico-valverde-explains-why-he-didnt-join-arsenal-at-16\/","title":{"rendered":"Real Madrid star Federico Valverde explains why he didn’t join Arsenal at 16"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde has explained why he didn’t join Arsenal at the age of 16. The Uruguayan went on trial with the Gunners but admits he never wanted to move to England.<\/p>\n

Valverde has established himself as an integral player in Real Madrid’s midfield in recent years. He already has two La Liga titles and a Champions League to his name during his time at the Bernabeu.<\/p>\n

But it could have been so different at the beginning of his career. Valverde started in his home country at Penarol where he made an early impression as a teenager.<\/p>\n

Arsenal were one of the teams interested in signing him but Valverde claims he was being pushed to go to the Gunners for financial reasons. He told The Players’ Tribune: “If you Google me, you will see stories about how I almost went to Arsenal when I was 16.<\/p>\n

Read more… <\/strong> Pochettino faces expensive Chelsea punishment with boss banned vs Newcastle<\/strong><\/p>\n

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“That\u2019s maybe half-true. It\u2019s nothing against Arsenal, but I never wanted to go to England.<\/p>\n

“At that time, the business side of football took over. Certain people were telling me, ‘Who wouldn\u2019t want to go play for Arsenal? You want to stay here in Uruguay? That\u2019s crazy!’ What they were really saying under their breath was, ‘We can all make a lot of money if you go’.<\/p>\n

“You realize that your life is not your own in football. Especially at a young age, you feel more like a hostage. Even your family becomes a hostage.<\/p>\n

“Football is an escape to a better life, especially for us in South America, and the vultures know that. They put the pressure on you in a ‘nice’ way. ‘Damn, Fede, if you go to Arsenal, you\u2019ll have a nice bed and a shower that stays warm for 30, 40 minutes! Who wouldn\u2019t want that life?'”<\/p>\n