Arsenal’s Missed Opportunity: Juan Mata
In 2011, Arsenal missed out on the opportunity to sign Juan Mata from Valencia. The Spanish playmaker had agreed personal terms with the Gunners, but the club dithered over the price tag set by the LaLiga outfit. This led rivals Chelsea to swoop in and secure the services of Mata, who had chipped in with nine goals and 18 assists in 43 games during the 2010-11 season.
Arsenal were crying out for a creative midfielder as they looked to replace Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, who were seeking an exit from the club. But Arsene Wenger and the club were put off by the combined value of the transfer fee for Mata as well as his contract, which would have totalled £37million.
Arsenal’s Former Transfer Negotiator Speaks Out
Dick Law, Arsenal’s former transfer negotiator, has spoken out about the missed opportunity to sign Juan Mata. Law had travelled to Spain to meet with Mata’s father, and he has stated that the player was keen to make the move to the Emirates.
Speaking to The Athletic, he said: “Then we waited. Juan definitely wanted to come to Arsenal, there was no question about that.”
When asked if Arsenal ever considered paying above their valuation of a player, Law declared that it was never spoken about. He added: “I don’t think that calculation ever entered our equation. We didn’t have the money to say, ‘We’ll spend a bit more’.”
Mata’s Success at Chelsea
Arsenal’s loss was Chelsea’s gain as Mata enjoyed a stunning season at Stamford Bridge. Mata recorded 12 goals and 20 assists in 54 games in all competitions, helping the club to Champions League and FA Cup glory. His performances led him to winning Chelsea’s Player of the Year in his first two seasons, before he was sold to Manchester United in January 2014 after falling out of favour under Jose Mourinho.
Arsenal’s Long List of Missed Opportunities
Juan Mata is part of a long list of stars who came close to joining Arsenal. Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Kylian Mbappe and Paul Pogba are just a few of the names that have been linked with moves to the North London club.
Arsenal’s Missed Opportunities: Lionel Messi
In 2003, Arsenal had the opportunity to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona. The Argentine was just 16 years old at the time, but he had already caught the eye of Arsenal’s scouts. However, the club was unable to secure a work permit for Messi, and he remained at Barcelona.
Arsenal’s Missed Opportunities: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
In 2000, Arsenal had the opportunity to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Malmo. The Swedish striker was just 18 years old at the time, but he had already shown his potential. However, Arsenal’s then-manager Arsene Wenger was not convinced by Ibrahimovic’s attitude and decided against signing him.
Arsenal’s Missed Opportunities: Kylian Mbappe
In 2016, Arsenal had the opportunity to sign Kylian Mbappe from Monaco. The French striker was just 17 years old at the time, but he had already shown his potential. However, Arsenal’s bid of £87million was rejected by Monaco, and Mbappe eventually signed for Paris Saint-Germain.
Arsenal’s Missed Opportunities: Paul Pogba
In 2012, Arsenal had the opportunity to sign Paul Pogba from Manchester United. The French midfielder was just 19 years old at the time, but he had already shown his potential. However, Arsenal’s bid of £1.5million was rejected by Manchester United, and Pogba eventually signed for Juventus.
Conclusion
Arsenal’s missed opportunity to sign Juan Mata is just one of many examples of the club’s failure to secure some of the world’s biggest stars. While it is easy to look back and criticize the club’s decisions, it is important to remember that hindsight is 20/20. Arsenal will continue to pursue top talent, and hopefully, they will have more success in the future.