Arsenal reportedly wanted to bring Samuel Chukwueze to the Premier League for £4million and now he is shining in La Liga for Villarreal.
The magical performance of 34-year-old Santi Cazorla might have dominated the post-match analysis after Villarreal’s thrilling 4-4 draw with Barcelona on Tuesday night.
But one of the greatest games in any La Liga season also appeared to herald the arrival of the Spanish game’s next attacking superstar – Samuel Chukwueze.
At the age of just 19, Chukwueze has gone from nowhere to become one of the first names on Villarreal’s team sheet in recent months. He ran Barca’s defence ragged at the Estadio de la Ceramica and put the icing on a sensational display with his seventh goal of the season.
Arsenal, then, must be wondering what might have been.
According to All Nigeria Soccer, Arsenal were desperate to bring Chukwueze to the Emirates back in 2016, when he was playing for the Diamond Academy in Nigeria. But the deal collapsed due to a disagreement over the Gunners’ proposed pay structure.
The Guardian Nigeria claims that Arsenal were offering £4 million. Now Chukwueze is worth a lot more – £54 million to be precise.
That is the new release clause in Chukwueze’s contract, according to AS, with Villarreal jumping at the chance to renew his deal after he left Barca bloodied and battered.
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