Arsenal have agreed to pay Real Madrid’s £25million asking price to sign Gonzalo Higuain according to widespread reports in Spain on Sunday. Spanish papers including Marca and AS report that Arsenal have agreed to pay the asking price, with Italian journalist Tancredi Palmeri also backing up the claims. They all report that the only hold-up in a deal being completed is the Spanish club waiting to confirm Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager, but that is expected to happen in the coming days. Last Friday reports began to gather pace that Arsenal were closing in on signing Higuain after Wenger met the fathers agent.
Would Higuain wanting to sign for Arsenal be an issue? Earlier today Fresh Football reported: ‘Arsenal have been given the go ahead to sign Gonzalo Higuain from Real Madrid, after the Argentine striker reportedly told his current club to enter negotiations with Arsenal. According to Spanish source Vozopuli – Arsenal are going to enter talks with Real Madrid to sign the player once Carlo Ancelotti has been confirmed as Real Madrid manager.’
In 53 La Liga starts (and 27 sub apps) over the past three seasons, Higuain has managed to net 48 goals and impress along the way. The reason he has featured so often from the bench is due to the regular rotation with Karim Benzema. A rotation system which won them the league in 2011/12. Higuain began his career for River Plate, a breeding ground for young Argentinian talent. Arsene Wenger was thought to be interested in the player before he moved to Madrid in 2007.
The players father Jorge Higuain told press on Monday:
“We had contact through a friend of the [Juve] president, [agent Ernesto] Bronzetti,” he said. “He looks after the market. I suppose he spoke with them. The clubs must first talk with Madrid and start the negotiation. [Gonzalo] wants to go to a team who recognise him and appreciate him. We want a team who is in Europe.”
Higuain, 25 has spent six years in Madrid and Juventus were seen as firm favourites to sign the Argentinian. Reports in Turin suggest that the Italian side are closing in on the signing of Gonzalo’s International team-mate Carlos Tevez in a £8million deal.