ARSENAL OPTED AGAINST offering Aaron Ramsey a new contract because matching his wage demands would have been “very harmful” to the squad’s dynamic, head of football Raul Sanllehi says.
Ramsey will join Juventus on a free transfer on 1 July after accepting a deal in February that, according to some reports in the UK, will see him earn as much as £400,000 per week.
Sanllehi says it would have been irresponsible for Arsenal to match the “incredible” offers Ramsey received from other clubs when he entered the final year of his contract, even though the player himself was keen to stay at Emirates Stadium.
Sanllehi pointed to unnamed rivals where salary discrepancies have proved a disruption within the team and threatened to damage the interests of the club as a whole.
“One of the key things for me – and I’ve seen that happening in other clubs – one of the key things is to keep the rationality in the salary balance of the team,” he told Arsenal’s website.
“Because of our circumstances, because of not renewing Aaron on time, we were in a situation in which Aaron had incredible offers building up on the salary.
He was really keen on staying with us, he was ready to make the effort but at the end of the whole process we had to be responsible for ourselves and protect the interests of Arsenal. We realised we were going to cause an imbalance that would have been very harmful for the team’s sake in the medium and longer term.
Sanllehi says plans are firmly in place for the transfer window, however, as Arsenal look to replace Ramsey and strengthen their squad.
Only a victory in next week’s Europa League final will see them return to the Champions League next season, but Sanllehi thinks the lure of the Gunners will be enough to convince top targets to join regardless.
“What I can tell you is that we have identified very clearly and unanimously with our head coach and technical people, we know what we want to prioritise and we’re very clear on what our priorities are,” he said.
“We’re already in the market and we’re already talking with the people that can help us to cover those positions and I feel quite strong.
“It’s going well and the image that Arsenal has in the football world is very strong. I do believe that we have a very good plan to cover those positions to be much stronger next year to deliver the success that we’re all hoping for.
“We are a reference in the football world, so when Arsenal knocks on the door of players it’s a different knock than other clubs. Of course, the fact that we have not been in the Champions League for two years and we are in question marks now for the next year, that’s not helpful. But again, the image of Arsenal is strong enough to help us build a case about all the model we are bringing up, the new era that we are bringing up. It’s very exciting.”
Sanllehi also expects the club to appoint a new technical director soon, with former midfielder Edu said to be among the candidates.
“That role is really crucial in the whole model,” he added. “We are hoping to be able to get that covered very soon… we are only missing that piece. Surely we are going to be able to cover for him in the short term but when we are talking mid-term and long term we really need that position.”
- Omni
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Great player, did very little wrong this year.
An absolute gentleman , hed walk onto the dubs starting team.
Great to see such an honest insight. Firstly in regard to Dublin and Mayo’s desire to win at all costs and his honesty about what happened Kerry so soon after losing to mayo. Kerry only blame themselves when they are found wanting. Same in 2011. No blame to Billy John Keane or cluxton eating up the clock. The attitude was they should have had us beaten out the gate before Kev mcs goal
@Bill Clay: well they kinda have to be honest because the cat is out of the bag. Kerry having the highest number of black cards received of the top teams shows the cynicism that is there.
It’s sad all the same.
@Peter McGlynn: can you back that stat Peter regarding black cards? I suspect not.
@Peter McGlynn:
It’s very sad Peter altogether. Only four minor All Ireland’s in four years. Awful sad.
@Peter McGlynn: Whats even sadder is the state of Donegal football.
@NeilGoochFerriter: here you are boy
http://m.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/25-in-four-years-kerry-are-the-market-leaders-when-it-comes-to-league-black-cards-35634272.html
@Bill Clay: who is billy john Keane you stupid preck
P Geaney is about the only kerry player that would make the Dublin squad at the moment.
@John Carroll: I’d say a few of them would make the squad in fairness but he’s about the only one who’d start.
@Conor O’Riordan: O Donoghue, Donaghy and David Moran would be close to. Kerry aren’t far away and are always capable of beating any team.
Kerry will win an all Ireland in the next 3 years… and I’m a dubs fan!
@Sean O Draighneain: donaghy? Really
@Ollie Watson: I think so. He’s a better version of o gara and a big game player. hate seeing him on the Kerry team when they play Dublin.
@Sean O Draighneain: Paul Murphy would get into the squad too in my opinion. The most underrated player in the country. And I hope you’re right!
@John Carroll:
Star would walk on.
@Ollie Watson:
Without question. Lion led by donkeys.
@Con Murphy:Dont think so Ted !!!
Interesting article perhaps the gaa will run this for their next ad campaign waxing lyrical about the values and principles of this great organisation.
It’s a pity this attitude to sport is gaining popularity .
Rules are there to ensure fair play so that the team which wins does so because they are the best at the sport.
If your going to play that way ..fine ..but spare me the hypocrisy of claiming to be a noble sports hero .. if that’s sport put it in your next ad ..let the kids see what their hero’s are prepared to do to win..I think it’s wrong and diminishes the game and the winning.
A truly great Dublin team is on the cusp of true greatness – 4 in a row. Mayo have had more chances than most teams could dream of, unfortunately, they haven’t got what it takes.
Paul, the Kerry brains trust must prevent this calamity and rise from the ashes. Only one team can stop then now.
@Etherman:
Little chance with current management. Another wasted year ahead unfortunately.
Paul like the rest of Kerry are hoping to bring this Dublin run to an end. When Kerry beat Dublin in this years league final most of the pundits said it was a dress rehearsal for this years All Ireland how wrong they were. In this decade so far Dublin have beaten Kerry four times in the All Ireland,two finals and two semifinals, not even the great Kerry team of the 70′s managed to beat Dublin four times in that decade and they had the opportunity to do so had they won in 76 or 77. I hope Dublin go on and win four in a row and go down as one of the greatest teams to play the game if they are not already there.
Lets all hope Mayo finally win it next year or someone like kildare ,Galway, Roscommon, Monaghan, or Cavan maybe could manage to step up instead of Paul and and his feel sorry for me and kerry story, with their thirthy seven All-Irelands.Surely its the very last thing Football needs right now is another domination story begining in twenthy eighteen,you wont get much sympathy for that Paul.
@John Carroll: You need a woman John
@John Carroll:
There’s no feel sorry for me from Paul you would need to read what he wrote again.
Its not the Kerry way which has resulted in a record number of all Irelands. I was glad Dublin won against Mayo as I am sick of all the hard done by nonsense from Mayo. If you want to win it go out and do it. Paul isn’t looking for the sympathy that Mayo seem to thrive on and still win nothing. Mayo have turned losing all Irelands into an art form which is no good for their supporters. Best losers in Ireland, sad.
@Con Murphy: doesn’t say much for Kerry con. They were miles behind Mayo this year – in truth they could have lost by 12 points and there’s only about 3 Kerry players who’d make the Mayo team currently.
@Con Murphy :”Not the Kerry way” ah will you get off thd dung heap you clown.
@Summer bay Devil:Ask your sister :-):-)
Great article
Very honest alright but I would worry about sportsmanship in the game today. There is too much off the ball stuff going on. A second referee would need to be on the pitch to try and stop this. Linesmen and umpires have no authority to do anything about this, and it is becoming a blight on the game.
Kill or be killed what a statement to use in any sport
@Alan Scott: At this level it is all about winning and that won’t change. You would worry about sportsmanship in the game though. I would also be worried about young kids and underage players adopting this attitude which would not be good for them or our overall society.But at senior level this is the reality and it will not change. GAA today is such a part of Irish life that so much of a players life depends on how he and his team perform at the highest level. Their jobs and careers are intimitly bound up with their sporting success or lack of it.
For a top player like a Kieran Donoghy or Colm Cooper, both from not very well off backgrounds sport, and the GAA in particular, provides hope that they can reach fame and a little bit of fortune in a society where otherwise they would not have a lot of advantages and where people look down on people from their backgrounds. Sport is one of the few ways in which a guy from an ordinary background can make a name for himself in a society which is dominated by who you know and where you went to school or who your daddy knows.
As a Dublin fan the 2011 final was the best . Primarily because Kerry threw it at us . Kerry lost it , we didn’t win it . Kerry have always been the standard by which you measured yourself . It’s lovely to see them with their confidence shot but it won’t last .
Mayo are the arsenal of Gaelic football, afraid of winning and loving a good moan
Mayo bet Kerry by 6 points this year but it could have been a lot more. They totally dominated them.