Gary Neville has slammed Arsenal over their deal to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back in January 2018, claiming they made a mistake paying £60 Million for a player on a three-and-a-half year deal.
The Gabonese striker’s future is up in the air at present, with his contract entering the final 12 months in a matter of weeks.
The Gunners are believed to be keen on keeping their prized asset, but Aubz has made it clear previously that he wants to play for Real Madrid, having promised his now-deceased Grandfather that he would, as published in L’Equipe magazine in 2016 (Via Marca).
With only a year remaining on his deal, Arsenal may well be forced to consider his sale, in fear of losing him for free in the next summer, and Gary Neville has slammed our club for making such a costly mistake.
“I think a three-year deal for a player that cost £60m, you’d at least want that fourth year so you can control him if does well in the first two seasons, which he obviously has,” he said on Sky Sports‘ The Football Show.
“That’s the mistake that’s been made on day one with Aubameyang.
“The fact they’re in this positions now is through mistakes that have been made previously.
“I think Arsenal are just in a position where the player’s going to call the shots.”
Neville added: “Arsenal find themselves in this position far too often.”
Should Arsenal have pulled out of the deal to sign Aubameyang without a longer contract being agreed? Could the striker’s previous intention to join Real be the reasoning why an extended contract wasn’t agreed initially?
Patrick
Neville is probably right on this occasion.As for the link with Real Madrid , they have found it impossible to sell their Galacticos who are on long term contracts and huge wages, Bale and Modric being examples.Faced with these unsaleable “assets” they are highly unlikely to contemplate bringing in yet another aging superstar particularly with a global recession now in place.To that end , the financial crisis could just work in our favour as the philosophy of even the top European sides will change to “buy young and cheap” relatively speaking of course.In essence Auba could well find it in his best interest to stay with a Club where he is respected and valued.Let’s hope so.
👍 I sure do hope so, Grandad
Grandad I much agree with you. I do think though that IF an offer for Auba in excess of say £35 mill arrives, which I much doubt, then the club will let him go. I think he wants to go but will find it difficult, PERHAPS impossible, to get the wages and length of contract he wants elsewhere, bearing in mind his age. He may therefore stay and as you say, would be well advised to do so. His future wages earning ability is falling by the month.
Neville the clown he his trying to tell us that when contracts are being negotiated the players hands are tied.
Dawg am!
Imagine where Arsenal would be without his goals. One of the best signing Arsenal have made in my life time (26 years old)
👍 battling relegation, for sure!