Football News
Braga set to beat Wenger to "Madrid’s Crown Jewel"
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger looks to have missed out on Madrid youngster Pablo Sarabia after Spanish reports intimated Portuguese’s side Braga had won the race to sign the highly rated youngster in the January transfer window.
Madrid’s Spanish rivals Barcelona were also interested, as were Inter Milan, however the Spanish press suggest the Gunners' boss and other interested parties have missed out on the Castilla star this summer.
Spanish publication A Bola indicate that the Portuguese side, who are ironically in Arsenal’s Champions League group will move to Braga for a fee in the region of 3 million euros in the January transfer window.
Sarabia, nicknamed the “Jewel of Castilla” - Real Madrid’s reserve side - is regarded as a massive part of the future of the Bernabeu outfit. Nevertheless, the youngster is rumoured to be tempted by the prospect of first team football and the challenge of a top foreign league after being frustrated at failing to break into the Galacticos first team squad.
The Spanish giants have experienced the loss of talented youngsters before having seen the likes of Juan Mata move to Valencia and Alvaro Negredo switch to Almeria. It is understood that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has had the youngster watched regularly and was impressed with the teenager's potential, however the North London club never formally enquired about the youngster opening the door for Braga to make their approach.
The 18-year-old can sign for any side in Europe if he fails to agree terms with Real Madrid on a new contract, with the Spanish club receiving a compensation fee set by a tribunal. Sarabia had impressed Wenger with a string of impressive performances for Castilla and the Spanish Under 17s, gaining a reputation as a tricky and skilful winger.
According to previous reports in Spain the agent of the player Gines Carvajal had kept Arsenal boss Wenger updated with the progress of contract talks, with many Spanish publications hinting Wenger could land Sarabia in a ‘Cesc Fabregas’ style transfer. However despite fervent interest, reports suggest Sarabia has agreed terms with Braga.