Inter Milan have seen off the Gunners to land Ricky Alvarez, according to several reports.
A statement on Velez’s official website read:
‘Velez Sarsfield Athletic Club announces that it has reached an agreement with the authorities of FC Inter Milan for the transfer of our player Ricardo Alvarez.’
The 23-year-old playmaker is believed to have put pen to paper on a five-year contract after agreeing a fee with the newly-crowned Argentinean champions earlier in the week.
It is understood that Inter acquired Alvarez’s services for just under £11 million, while Arsenal were only prepared to go as high as £9 million for the Argentine star.
Alvarez, who has been compared to Lionel Messi, was also being chased by Palermo and Roma, but chose to ply his trade at the Nerazzurri, despite tweeting his desire to join the Gunners a few days ago.
It is thought that Inter skipper, Javier Zanetti, played a major role in persuading his fellow countryman to join the Serie A outfit.
Now I don’t mind that we’ve lost out on Alvarez because, quite frankly, I believe there are better players out there for us to obtain. What gets me is the fact that our club were unwilling to pay an extra £2 million to land the player.
One of our primary targets (according to reports of course) has once again slipped through our fingers due to a minor discrepancy over the transfer fee, which is very frustrating to hear.
The Gervinho transfer looks a done deal, but what about trying to sign our other transfer targets who are also been chased by top clubs? Have we got a chance against the rich boys?
If Arsenal can’t part with an extra measly £2 million to sign a player – in this case Alvarez – then what hope have we got of signing quality this summer?
I understand that Arsene Wenger is not willing to pay over the odds for a player, I can respect that, but one must worry when we cannot sign a player like Ricky Alvarez, who isn’t even a world-beater.
Like what you read? Then follow me on Twitter – http://twitter.com/Gunnersphere
Visit and Join our Facebook page, click HERE to do so.
Gunnersphere is currently looking for new writers to join the squad. Contact via twitter or at Gunnersphere@snack-media.com for further details.
He and his father are Inter fans, I would not worry.
I’m not too concerned that we didn’t sign him mate, more concerned that Wenger/Arsenal were unwilling to spend an extra £2M. I just hope this isn’t a sign of things to come. Thanks for your comment
i’m disappointed at wenger and i hope he would let issues like £1-£3m cause us to lose out on quality signings like cahill and the rest later
We don’t really know him,if he wants to come the Gunners we are all ready.But to lure us we say NO?
Wenger continue missing out in the transfer market.Dont fink anybody can contest the fact that he(Wenger)as lost it completely.It is because of 2m he lost Alvarez to Inter this time around.Who will save Arsenal from falling?
Who said we were even in for him? I can’t really remember Wenger or anyone at Arsenal commenting on him or anything i feel a lot of it was made by the press because he looks like a player that could do well in the Arsenal system.
A lot of stuff comes out saying that Arsenal missed out on a certain player but has NO proof we were even bidding for them or were interested in the player in the first place.
when the rumour of Wenger’s interest in this guy came up, nobody knew him. How come losing him now has come to signify the end of the World.
As I stated in the article, I’m not bothered whether we lost him to Inter, I’m more worried that Arsenal were unwilling to spend an extra £2M for the player – That is what I was trying to convey in the piece, nothing more.
Typical Wenger, wouldn’t pay an extra million quid last year for Schwarzer, then we were left with Flapihandski and that joke Alumunia…. how many points did that cost us?
Wenger has to go, he is finished as a manager
Wenger/arsenal board should keep on falling, we hv lost in on ricky alverez who determined to join us. The next ll be cahill, mata, aly cissokho, nd benzima. Infact am fade up in supporting arsenal.
Pure assumption that we didnt out in the extra £2M to sign him, sow facts that we didnt. And even if we didnt its simple, we thought he was worth less and we said take what we offer or move on cause Alvarez is no one special. Im sure that if this was a more established player we would put in what would be needed.
PS I respect your blog cause I see you care by replying a lot, but you really stop putting up bullsh*t like this.
Dude, I wouldn’t be surprised if Wenger didnt offer an extra £2M for ALvarez, would you? He’s known for his prudent spending and that is a fact.
Prime example – Bolton want £17M for Cahill, Wenger only wants to offer £15M – come on seriously!?
Losing out on Alvarez was another big mistake as he is a player that will flourish in any league. For 11m he was a steal, Inter don’t make many mistakes.
This loss also damages our ability to sign other top players as our image in the transfer market suffers yet again. Ricardo wanted Arsenal and we didn’t do what was necessary to make it happen. We are not serious bidders and need not be taken seriously.