Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claims that Barcelona “do not want to sell David Villa”.
Goal.com exclusively revealed on Monday that the two clubs have opened talks, with the Gunners’ contract negotiator Dick Law in Spain to discuss a deal, but the veteran coach says that his side have been shot down.
“Barca do not want to sell David Villa. They’ve made that very clear,” Wenger told reporters. When asked if there was any room for negotiation, he replied: “No.”
“What’s important is to buy players who can strengthen the squad. Otherwise, you do nothing. We have enough numbers, quality strikers,” the 63-year-old added.
The Arsenal boss also ruled out a short-term deal to sign David Beckham, though the former England international is training with the north Londoners.
“He called me,” Wenger explained. “It’s purely for fitness, there’s no speculation about him signing.”
With Liverpool visiting the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, the Frenchman declared: “It’s a very important game for us. We cannot afford to drop points.
Reds star Luis Suarez has plundered 21 goals in 31 games so far this season and Wenger observed: “He’s a great player. Nobody would deny that. They always have good teams – it’s a big game.”
“‘It’s always a big disappointment to go out of the FA Cup – you never know what response you get,” he warned after Brendan Rodgers’s men lost 3-2 to Oldham on Sunday.
The Arsenal manager added that “the players that were rested at Brighton are all available” with Jack Wilshere among those returning to the squad.
It warms my heart to see the majority of pepole realize what a great manager we have. He’s Billy Beane with titles, he’s one of the top top Premier League managers without the Scrooge McDuck money pile to bail him out. If I’m building a new club, he is the first name on my lineup. Some may say Ferguson, but I’d rather an astute measurer of talent AND a economist and scientist over drunken blowhard any day. Mr Wenger runs AFC with a business sense, but honestly- he is putting affairs in order. If anyone comes in to take over one day in 2014, they will have a relatively debt-free club, with massive revenue, manageable contracts, large stadium, and shiny new sponsorships markedly up from pre-2014.Yes, a lot of the workers at AFC accomplish that, but it is Mr Wenger’s class and development of an Arsenal style that will lead to interest from those potential sponsors.To the detractors, fair enough to speak your mind, but you speak from a position of having his leadership and expecting more- I’d argue that were Mr Wenger never the AFC manager, you’d be desperate for someone to come in and rescue you from mid-table hell. 14 0