Gab Marcotti has named Ruben Neves, amongst the rest of the players who moved to the Saudi Pro League this summer, as worse signings than Arsenal’s Kai Havertz.
The ESPN pundit was asked to name his top five worst transfers so far this season, with Kai Havertz sitting second on his list.
It was suggested that the German international ‘hasn’t lived up to his price tag’ at Arsenal and that he has now been dropped for Fabio Vieira.
But Gab Marcotti was sure to stick the knife into players who moved to Saudi Arabia, including Ruben Neves, as he stated that ‘it hasn’t really happened’ for them, as he told ESPN.
That’s why they sat top of his list, with those in the Middle East spending a huge amount of money to boost their league this summer.
With Wolves looking to sell Ruben Neves for FFP reasons, his name was being touted about possibly moving across the Premier League and to Arsenal.
But, in the end, the Portugal international, to the surprise of some, decided to join, the now-injured, Neymar at Al-Hilal – Gabriel Jesus reacted to Neymar’s serious injury.
Bigger flop than Havertz?
“£75 million is a ton of money, just the one goal so far this season,” said Marcotti. “He has been dropped for Fabio Vieira on a couple of occasions. He is learning a role he hasn’t played in a very long time in attacking midfield, so far, he hasn’t lived up to his price tag.”
On the worst transfer so far: “Just about every big pro who moved to Saudi. I say this, from the perspective of the Saudi teams.
“So far, the big booming interest we were told about, with broadcasters around the world buying the rights of the Saudi Pro League to watch Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinković-Savić, it hasn’t really happened. I don’t see the business in it.”
Havertz needs time
This is where Mikel Arteta needs to be trusted and someone like Havertz needs time to settle in and develop.
When someone like Jack Grealish, who was signed for £100 million by Manchester City, can need 12 months to settle in at the champions, then so can Havertz.
But perhaps, because one is an English player, then he will probably get favourable press.
Either way, it’s not going well for Havertz now, but the knives should be out in May if he is still struggling and not now because there is still a lot of football to be played.
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