Former Real Madrid and Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain has launched a cheeky jibe at Arsenal after explaining why he never completed a move to north London.
The Argentine forward was regularly linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium during the earlier years of his career with Arsene Wenger thought to be a huge admirer. The legendary Gunners’ boss even confirmed that Higuain was one of the club’s prime targets in the 2013 summer transfer window only to see him move to Serie A club Napoli instead.
Speaking a few months later, he said: "We were working on two or three targets and he [Higuain] was one of them. It didn't come off in the end, that doesn't take anything away from his quality.
"Napoli took advantage of that at the right moment, it's more about timing as well.”
Now nine years down the line, with the Argentine plying his trade with David Beckham ’s MLS outfit Inter Miami, he has explained that whilst a move was close, Arsenal backtracked over the cost of the transfer. Higuain was then left aghast as the Gunners’ forked out a then club record fee for Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Ozi l.
Speaking with TyC Sports, he chuckled: “I remember that I was on the verge of going to Arsenal when I went to Napoli, but they said I was too expensive. And a few days later, they paid €80m for Ozil!”
Would Gonzalo Higuain have been a good signing for Arsenal? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Intriguingly, Higuain nearly joined Arsenal again just three years later after a goal-laden spell in Naples. Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis has confirmed that once again, the Gunners were unwilling to meet the fee for his services with a move to Juventus being completed instead.
Speaking with Standard Sport in 2016, he said: "I think we received some requests from Arsenal. Personally, I also received a request from Atletico Madrid.
"But they didn't put enough money on the table. We were not ready to sell him – for me Higuain was not for sale."
Of course, Higuain did eventually make a move to the Premier League but instead of his destination being the Emirates Stadium, he instead ended up at Chelsea on a six-month loan spell during the second-half of the 2018/19 campaign. Reunited with former boss Maurizio Sarri, there was hope that the Italian would be capable of reigniting the striker’s stuttering career.
He only managed to score five goals in 18 appearances but was part of the side that won the Europa League - ironically against Arsenal.
The now 34-year-old returned to Juve after his spell in west London, going on to make 44 appearances and scoring 11 goals before a switch to Inter Miami where he has scored just 15 goals in 51 outings.
