Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain has opened up on his failed move to Arsenal in 2013.
Rewind to the summer of 2013, and the Gunners were linked on the daily to then Napoli forward Gonzalo Higuain.
It was a move that seemed set to happen, with all links uniting the Argentine and Arsenal.
But despite the constant rumours, the move never materialised.
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Nine years on, the 34-year-old has offered insight into the failed transfer.
Speaking to TYC in Argentina, the Inter Miami man joked about how the deal never came to fruition:
“I remember that I was on the verge of going to Arsenal when I went to Napoli, but they said I was too expensive."
"And a few days later, they paid €80m for Ozil!”
The Argentine does have his facts wrong, with Ozil having signed for the Gunners for £42 million, however, his argument is nonetheless a poignant one.
Arsene Wenger brought a generational creator to the club, and has no regrets about that fact.
However, the lack of a ruthless forward did cost his side in coming seasons.
One need only look two seasons on at the 2015/2016 season at how the lack of forward firepower caused the Gunners to misfire in their title charge
In that fateful season, Wenger’s side succumbed to underdog’s Leicester, in what is one of the biggest “what if’s” of the Arsene era.
That said, there is no guarantee the Argentine would have seamlessly adapted to a new division, culture, city and way of living.
After all, Ozil himself initially struggled with this adaptation.
When all is said and done, the Emirates faithful won’t rue the choice of the German maestro over Higuain.
The artist blessed the pristine N5 turf with some of the best football it’s ever seen.
Whether the 34-year-old’s comments were tongue-in-cheek or have an underlying regret is hard to tell, but regardless, the summer of 2013 is certainly a case of “what could have been”.
Topics: Arsenal, Gonzalo Higuain, Mesut Ozil
Jake Lennard