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Francis Cagigao says the Ghana international midfielder was a player that North Londoners haunted “for a long time” before his arrival.
Thomas Partey is “the last piece of the puzzle that sees Arsenal face the title,” says former club scout Francis Cagigao, and the 45-million-pound ($ 58 million) midfielder is expected to star in northern London.
Mikel Arteta completed his transfer business on the last day of the summer window. The gunners had been monitoring Partey “for a long time”, and those efforts finally yielded the desired result as the deadline approached.
Arsenal agreed to activate the release clause in the Ghana international’s contract at Atlético de Madrid, allowing him to head to the Emirates Stadium.
Cagigao believes that Partey will generate an immediate return on the investment made in him, and said he may be the man to fire the Gunners again in the contention for the Premier League crown.
“He is a player we have pursued for a long time and have been highly recommended in recent years,” said a man who left Arsenal in September after 24 years at the club. Daily mail.
“I saw him for the first time about six years ago playing for Almería on loan from Atlético de Madrid and he was more from box to box, even attacking. I think we’ll see him without the shackles because he played a lot in a restricted midfield unit. [at Atletico].
“He could be the final piece of the puzzle that makes Arsenal challenge for the title.”
While Partey’s signature was assured, there have been several top talents to swipe through Arsenal’s recruiting network over the years.
Legendary former boss Arsene Wenger has regularly revealed that he came close to landing some world soccer superstars. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Cristiano Ronaldo and Yaya Touré are among those the Gunners missed the opportunity to sign, with Barcelona legends Lionel Messi and Gerard Piqué also eluding their clutches.
Cagigao added about what could have been: “There are players who escape every season and it is public knowledge that Messi, Piqué, Juan Mata and others were very close. In the case of Messi, the work permits assured us that we could not get as close as we wanted ”.
Arsenal no longer dwell on the mistakes of the past as Arteta helped turn the club around, earning FA Cup and Community Shield honors along the way.
