This morning I woke up to the news that Flamini had agreed to join Juve at the end of the season. But it does not seem as cut and dried as that quite yet, with several confusing articles from various newspapers this morning saying slightly different things.
Firstly The Sun (not what you would generally call reliable) came out with the news that Flamini has decided he wants more cash:
MATHIEU FLAMINI is stalling on signing a new contract at Arsenal.
The French star has been offered a five-year deal and will become a free agent this summer if he does not sign. Flamini, 23, had agreed a massive rise from £20,000 to £50,000-a-week but Arsenal now fear he is set to dig in his heels for more cash. The Premier League leaders are also worried that he has been approached by another club. Flamini has formed an impressive midfield partnership with Spaniard Cesc Fabregas this season. And despite already agreeing terms, Arsenal may now have to increase their offer.
The Telegraph, meanwhile, reports on a story in the Daily Star that takes a slightly different take on it, saying that Arsenal think he has accepted an offer from Juve already:
Flamini’s contract expires at the end of the season and, according to a report in the Daily Star, his advisors have rebuffed Arsenal’s attempts to hold contract talks since the turn of the year. That has led Arsenal to conclude that he may have already accepted an offer from Juventus, with whom Flamini has been linked all season. Flamini was reportedly offered a five-year, £40,000-a-week contract before Christmas, but there has been no progress since then.
I really, really hope that the news, particularly the second story, is not true, as Flamini has been one of the keys to our success this season, and to lose him would not be a massive blow financially, but also to the strength of the team for next year. Not only that, even though Flamini is an excellent professional, if he has agreed to leave for Juve in the summer, his attitude towards the season run in may not be as good as it could be. We have seen the alternatives to Flamini this season, and they are not good at all in my opinion. Gilberto looks like he has now lost a great deal of enthusiasm for Arsenal, and he is not getting any younger either, and lacks the drive that Flamini has. Diaby, although we have not seen much of him centrally, definitely lacks the defensive capabilities to replace Flamini alongside Fabregas, while Denilson is a very promising player, but still does not have the defensive abilities of Flamini. That would mean we would have to find a replacement to buy in the summer, and there’s not too many players who are realistic targets for us who are better or as good as Flamini has been this season. The cost of a replacement as good as him would be anything upwards of £10-15m. Therefore if Flamini is just being greedy, give him the money, I believe at his age he is definitely worth the expense of a five year, 70K a week contract if thats what it would take.
The bottom line is: Flamini, stay here!
