Ignasi Miquel to watch Arsenal V Aston Villa tomorrow

El Mundo Deportivo have today updated news regarding Spanish U16 defender Ignasi Miquel who is set to sign for Arsenal when he turns 16.

It was reported a week ago that Arsenal had reached an agreement with Union Deportiva Cornella for the teenager who started his career with Espanyol, moving to Barcelona for five years before the Spanish giants released him. Arsenal had to battle a number of massive clubs for the starlets signature, including Manchester United, Celtic, FC Barcelona, Osasuna, Atlético, Villarreal and Valencia.

Ignasi Miquel first visited Arsenal when Blackburn played Arsenal at the Emirates, after which Miquel was given Fabregas’ shirt by the midfield star. Miquel was also shown the facilities at the club and ate with the players at the training ground. Cornella’s Sporting Director and President then flew to London and laid the the foundations in “an agreement of collaboration” (the words of El Mundo Deportivo, leading me to think that perhaps there may be a first option agreement for their best players or something of a similar kind) with Arsenal.

And this week Miquel has again spent time at the club, as he traveled to London yesterday, accompanied by his family and also his representative Jose Manuel Gregorio, with the hope of seeing his residence that he will have while at Arsenal initially next season. Ironically enough, this is the same place as both Fran Merida and Cesc Fabregas have lived in previously. He will also visit where he will be studying and talk to the teachers there before watching the Arsenal match tomorrow against Villa at the Emirates.

 Next week, he will be with the Spanish U16 team, in Las Rozas.

For the source of this story, see here:

 http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/web/gen/20080229/noticia_53441194599.html

Hleb rejects Inter; Juve reject Flamini

Two very positive transfer stories today concerning two of our very best performers this season, French midfielder Mathieu Flamini and Belurussian playmaker Aleksander Hleb.

The news broke yesterday that Mathieu Flamini was close to accepting a contract offer from Juve due to factors he wasn’t happy with the Arsenal contract offer, and there were even some reports suggesting he’d already decided to accept Juve’s offer, but according to the Italian giants themselves, they are not even lining up a bid for our midfield battler.

Juventus’ Sporting Director Alessio Secco said: “There is nothing true. He’s a really good player, but we have never looked at him. Our chief officer has contacted the Gunners to reassure them. It’s a gesture that was needed considering the good relationship there must be between two big clubs like Juve and Arsenal, and that has been appreciated.”  

Hopefully this means that Flamini is set to stay, but I’m not going to bet on this being the last piece of speculation on the matter just yet. It is vital that Flamini is given a new contract that he finds acceptable though, and quickly too, as I made the point about in a previous article.

 Meanwhile, a far less likely looking rumour regarding enough star of the season has also been squashed, with Alex Hleb’s rumoured £14m interest from Inter being a non starter according to the Belarussian and his agent.

Hleb told skysports.com that “all I can say is from my side there is nothing going on. I am very proud to play for Arsenal.”

Meanwhile, his agent added: “I can understand why clubs would be interested in Alex. But Alex loves life at Arsenal. He feels he is at the best club in the world.”

Very promising news then, these two players will be vital for the rest of the season and hopefully have several more years to come at the Emirates Stadium before their careers at Arsenal come to an end.