Arsenal were keen on Mathias Oliveira but the Napoli bound left-back always wanted to join the Serie A giants over a club based in the Premier League, agent Pablo Boselli tells SerieANews.
It’s taken some time – longer than anyone might have predicted – but there are finally clouds of white smoke billowing out of the Stadio San Paolo.
After a medical was scheduled earlier this week, Oliveira is dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s at long last as he closes in on a move that has been months in the making.
Napoli, who finished third in the Scudetto race after flirting with the title, will stump up an initial £10 million for the Getafe flyer. Oliveira is set to sign a five-year deal worth around £25,000-a-week.
“I know that the Azzurri fans they are waiting,” explains Oliveira’s agent, confirming one of the worst-kept secrets in Italian football.
“He has carried out the medical examinations and the rest. He has not yet had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Spalletti but Olivera wanted (to join) Napoli at all costs.”
Arsenal miss out as Napoli agree Mathias Oliveira deal
According to Tuttomercatoweb, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal also showed an interest in the 24-year-old Uruguay international.
Oliveira is one of a number of talented left-backs linked with The Gunners, alongside Udinese’s free-scoring Nahuel Molina and Bologna’s baby-faced Scot Aaron Hickey.
Boselli’s comments, however, seem to suggest that Arsenal were barking up the wrong tree. Oliveira was always holding out for Napoli.
“He is a reliable player,” says former Uruguay youth coach Fabian Coito. “I have known him since he was 18. He impressed me with his physical strength and his aggressiveness.
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“Napoli have acquired an excellent left-sider. There are players who give you guarantees from all points of view and he was one of those. He has a great temperament. And despite this strong character, he easily becomes friends with his team-mates.”
Arsenal’s interest in Oliveira, Hickey and Molina comes on the back of a difficult debut season for Nuno Tavares at the Emirates Stadium. The excellent Kieran Tierney, meanwhile, is still worryingly injury-prone.
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