Arsenal legend Tony Adams feels his former employers were foolish to let Aaron Ramsey join “smaller” club Juventus for free.
Ramsey, 28, signed a pre-contract with the Old Lady last month, ending an 11-year association with Arsenal when his current deal is up at the end of the season.
Why did Ramsey leave Arsenal? Five key things to know…
- Ramsey has been at Arsenal for over a decade since signing from Cardiff City in 2008.
- But the Wales international has agreed to join Juventus once his current contract expires this summer.
- Talks with Arsenal broke down last September and an offer of a four-year extension was withdrawn.
- Ramsey has featured sporadically under Unai Emery this season, starting just 11 Premier League matches.
- Former boss Arsene Wenger believes Ramsey would have agreed a new deal were he still at the helm.
The Welshman has put pen to paper on a four-year deal in Turin and will link up with his new teammates and new coach Massimiliano Allegri upon the expiration of his Arsenal contract on July 1.
Adams, who spent his entire career with Arsenal between 1983 and 2002, believes the club have made a mistake in letting the box-to-box midfielder go while also expressing his puzzlement why Ramsey would want to leave anyway.
“It’s a different game and a different club to the one I left in 2002. We would be challenging and Juventus players would be signing for us,” he told Sky Sports News.
“Aaron Ramsey is too good to let go. Why would you go to Juventus anyway? They are a smaller club than Arsenal – that’s the way I’ve always felt about the Arsenal.
“Other people think differently, maybe he thinks Cardiff is bigger.”
Despite knowing Ramsey will not be donning the red and white colours of Arsenal next season, Emery has continued to utilise the midfielder, who played a vital role in the club’s recent 1-1 draw against eternal rivals Spurs at the weekend, netting the opening goal.
Arsenal next face Rennes in the first leg of their round-of-16 Europa League clash at the Emirates on Thursday.
READ MORE: The strengths and weaknesses of Stade Rennes
Who could replace Ramsey?
Speculation has already been gaining serious traction as to who could replace the outgoing Welshman this summer, and former Gunner Robert Pires has given his thoughts.
The Frenchman has backed wantaway PSG star Adrien Rabiot, whose contract also expires in the summer, to join the books in north London and succeed his midfield counterpart.
Subscribe to Squawka’s Youtube channel here.
Pires said: “Arsenal have the advantage of Emery having already worked with him at PSG, which should hopefully sway Rabiot to join Arsenal.
“He would be worth a big fee on the transfer market so the fact he’s free makes it a no brainer.
“If Emery can secure Rabiot then I think he’ll be able to fill the hole that will be left by Ramsey’s departure.”
The post Aaron Ramsey is wrong to leave Arsenal for “smaller” club Juventus – Tony Adams appeared first on Squawka News.
From Squawka News https://ift.tt/2tWdL8d
No comments:
Post a Comment