Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Yohan Cabaye congratulates his French compatriot Mathieu Debuchy for his move from Newcastle United to Arsenal.
Mathieu Debuchy made the switch from Newcastle United to Arsenal on Thursday, signing ‘a long-term contract’ for a transfer fee that is reported to be £12 million.
A number of the Gunners star – including Theo Walcott – have already welcomed the defender to the Emirates Stadium, and one of his former club teammates has also hailed his move to the North London outfit.
Yohan Cabaye knows the 28-year-old right-back very well, having played with him first at Lille and then at Newcastle. Both players are also part of the France national set-up and featured at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Interestingly, Cabaye could have joined Arsenal himself last summer had everything gone according to plan.
Arsenal were on the hunt for a creative midfielder and had targeted 28-year-old Cabaye. Arsene Wenger’s side had also made a bid of £10 million for the star player, who himself wanted to move to the former Premier League champions.
However, Newcastle did not budge from their stance that Cabaye was not for sale and the Frenchman was not sold. Arsenal would eventually go on to recruit Germany international Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid for £42.5 million, while Cabaye would make the move back to France in January, signing for Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.
‘I had wanted to play under Arsene Wenger last summer but unfortunately that was not the case’, he admitted in March.
Perhaps Cabaye still regrets not getting the chance to work with Wenger, but he seems pleased that his compatriot Debuchy will.
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