Date published: Thursday 11th February 2021 5:33 – Will Ford
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Arsenal “seriously tried to sign Riqui Puig” from Barcelona in January on loan with an option to buy.
Former AC Milan star Daniele Massaro – who apparently knows about such things – dubbed Puig “the new Iniesta”.
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The midfielder – who has started three times for Barcelona this season – has also been linked with a loan move to Leeds, but it was Mikel Arteta’s side that came close to sealing a deal last month.
“Let’s go back to the Premier League and let’s reveal the behind the scenes of the past transfer window between two clubs, one is Barcelona and one is Arsenal.” Romano’s co-host on the Here We Go Podcast said.
“At the start of the window Arsenal were seriously trying to sign Riqui Puig on loan with a buy option, in a similar deal as Odegaard, also with Riqui Puig at Barcelona,” Romano said.
“Barcelona said let’s see with Koeman, if he wants to keep the player, if he wants to play, let’s wait some weeks. Then in the middle of January they said no, Riqui Puig is not moving, we are keeping him.”