Dusan Vlahovic has offered insight into why he opted to sign for Juventus in the January transfer window.
The Vlahovic saga defined the winter transfer window for the Gunners, with almost daily updates on the future destination of the Serbian international. In the end, he opted for Juventus, leaving many to wonder if Arsenal could have done more.
According to the 22-year-old, there’s very little those at London Colney could have done, as he told the Telegraph:
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“Maybe my agent knows [about Arsenal’s offer] but I never talked to anyone about it.
"I just had one club in my mind because Juventus is Juventus. There is nothing else to say. And now I feel honoured to be given this jersey. It’s incredible every time I put it on.
“I definitely identify with their DNA. The Juventus personality coincides with my personality. When you come here you never give up, you fight all the time, you make the sacrifices. This was definitely what I was looking for.”
It would appear therefore that any move for the man who netted 24 goals in Serie A last season would have been a non-starter, if the Serbian had his heart set on Turin. That begs the question, why did the Gunners spend the window chasing a player that would never join them?
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The decision to not pursue an alternative signing proved to be a costly one to Mikel Arteta’s side, with the lack of depth in the centre-forward position, compounded by the departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to the Catalonian heartlands.
In not signing a striker then, the necessity to sign one this summer increases ten-fold. Who that signing is the Gunners faithful will know in due course, with names ranging from Gabriel Jesus to Victor Osimhen are talents emerging on Arsenal’s radar.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Dusan Vlahovic, Juventus, Arsenal, Transfers