Monaco have completed the £12 million signing of reported Arsenal, Tottenham and Wolves target Axel Disasi, with sporting director Paul Mitchell admitting to the club’s official website that he is ‘delighted’ to get the deal done.
Given that Mitchell was famed during his spells at Southampton and Spurs for unearthing rough diamonds before selling them on for a major profit, it is no surprise that he was fully aware of this 22-year-old’s potential.
Disasi has less than 50 senior league appearances under his belt.
But, after an impressive breakthrough season, the former Reims defender has already signed on the dotted line for one of the biggest clubs in French football.
Following a prolonged transfer saga, the latest highly-rated Ligue 1 centre-back has become Mitchell’s first big-money signing since swapping Leipzig for Monte Carlo.
“We are delighted that Axel has chosen to join AS Monaco. His qualities as a defender, his maturity and his experience in the French Championship, despite his young age, will be additional assets,” says Mitchell, who has beaten two of his former club’s to Disasi’s signature.
“I’m delighted to be involved with AS Monaco,” the man himself adds. “This is a great opportunity for me to demonstrate my qualities at the highest level and to continue my progress at a club with high ambitions.”
Goal reported as recently as Monday that Arsenal were still interested in bringing Disasi to the Emirates, with Mikel Arteta’s desire to reinforce an eternally error-prone defence very well documented.
The Mail reported in April that Southampton, Spurs and Everton were interested too, while Wolves made a bid for Disasi last month (L’Equipe).
But with Monaco coach Niko Kovac making it clear that a watertight backline was central to his plans at the Principality, Disasi clearly has a key role to play in the rejuvenation of the 2017 French champions.
“I believe in a rule: the strikers win the matches, the defences win the titles”, Kovac told L‘Equipe, channelling his inner Sir Alex Ferguson.
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