Bartomeu had it almost done and Emery takes it to Villarreal

Josep Maria Bartomeu had an eyebrow to sign a player that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal wanted to get rid of because of his lack of discipline. That player is the French midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, who at 21 had settled in the Gunner team and he seems destined to be one of the great midfielders of European football in the coming years.

However, in the Catalan entity there were many critical voices with the Barça president due to the interest in a player who did not improve either Ivan Rakitic or Arturo Vidal, footballers for whom he wanted to exchange the Arsenal footballer.

Although it seems that Bartomeu would have been given bad news when he saw how Unai Emery’s Villarreal would be very close to signing the French player. In fact, the hiring of the Basque coach for the yellow submarine would have been key for Guendouzi, who although he likes the Catalan option knows that he would not have the minutes he would like there and with Emery he is very confident since he is the coach who made his debut at Arsenal.

In fact, it is said that the French midfielder could enter the operation that would take Pau Torres to the London team this summer. Guendouzi could be part of the renewed midfield that Unai Emery raises after the exits of Santi Cazorla and Bruno Soriano, very sensitive losses that are waiting to be replaced by the Frenchman and by one of the sounding Madridistas (Óscar Rodríguez or Take Kubo).

The Catalans for their part seem to have ruled out Guendouzi will save a place in the first squad for one of the three youth midfielders that Quique Setién will have on the squad in preseason without the future resolved. We are talking about Rafinha Alcántara, Carles Aleñà or Monchu, being Aleñà the one with the most options to stay.

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