This time last year, Arsenal had just signed Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid on loan, but one year ago this week, reports emerged stating that things could have gone rather differently.
Indeed, 12 months ago, Fabrizio Romano claimed that Arsenal were seriously trying to sign Riqui Puig from Barcelona.
“Let’s go back to the Premier League and let’s reveal the behind the scenes of the past transfer window between two clubs, one is Barcelona and one is Arsenal.” Romano’s co-host on the Here We Go Podcast said last February.
“At the start of the window Arsenal were seriously trying to sign Riqui Puig on loan with a buy option, in a similar deal as Odegaard, also with Riqui Puig at Barcelona,” Romano said.
Arsenal instead ended up with Odegaard, and it’s fair to say that they got the better end of the deal.
Odegaard is now one of the first names on the Gunners’ teamsheet, while Puig can barely get a game at Barcelona, despite La Blaugrana’s relative struggles earlier this season.
Puig has started just one league game in 2021/22 for Barca, while Odegaard has contributed to seven goals for Arsenal while appearing 19 times for the London club.
Interestingly, Odegaard was in a similar situation at Real Madrid last year, starting just three league games in 2020/21 before departing for Arsenal, and perhaps Puig will undergo a similar transformation if he gets the chance to spread his wings away from Camp Now.
Once upon a time, Puig was labelled as ‘the new Iniesta’, but at the age of 22, he can hardly get a game for Barcelona and his failed move to Arsenal this time last year may end up being a decisive moment of his career.
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