What an awful 2021 it has been for former Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi.
The Germany international suffered the indignity of having his contract in North London terminated back in January, such was Mikel Arteta’s lack of faith in ever needing the player.
Schalke snapped him up on a free transfer but Mustafi was unable to save the German outfit from relegation, before being released.
He has spent virtually the whole summer as a free agent and it’s proving quite difficult for him to find a new club.
Mustafi, who cost Arsenal £35 million in 2016, was linked to Genoa on Wednesday but Tuttomercatoweb suggested that the Italian side were ready to look elsewhere.
To put that into perspective, Genoa finished 11th in Serie A last season, quite literally making them a mid-table club and even they aren’t interested in him as a Bosman.
Peak years
What’s even more surprising is the fact that Mustafi is still only 29 in what are supposed to be the best years of a player’s career.
And the fact that he can’t find a club really has to make you wonder why Arsenal even signed him in the first place.
He has been one of the most error-prone – and consequently unpopular – defenders in the Gunners’ modern history.
And therefore nobody who follows the Emirates Stadium club will be particularly shocked – or saddened – to learn that he’s struggling to get a gig.
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