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‘I almost went to Arsenal when I was 16 – I was sent on trial but didn’t feel comfortable’

Arsenal is a club millions of young people would dream of playing for, but one top quality player did not feel at home when he went on trial at the club

Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde revealed he went on trial at Arsenal as a youngster, but opted to snub their interest.

Valverde, 25, has been at the heart of Los Blancos’ success during Carlo Ancelotti’s second reign at the club. He contributed the vital assist for Vinicius Juniorr to prod home the vital goal when Los Blancos beat Liverpool 1-0 to win the 2022 Champions League.

However, the Uruguayan could well have been one of the Gunners’ academy products to be tearing up the Premier League with Mikel Arteta right now. Unfortunately for the North Londoners, Valverde’s gut instincts convinced him to look for a different opportunity.

“I almost went to Arsenal when I was 16 years old,” Valverde said to the Players’ Tribune. “That may be half true. It’s nothing against Arsenal, but I never wanted to go to England.

“I was sent on trial to London for a week and I just didn’t feel comfortable. If you only think about material things, it sounds great. But we’re not robots.

“The reality was that my family couldn’t come to London with me. I would have to live alone, without speaking the language, at the age of 16. For every child who manages to move abroad, you don’t see the 100 who fail.”

Instead of playing alongside Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, he is part of a lethal midfield diamond also featuring Aurelien Tchouameni, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and the unstoppable Jude Bellingham.

As well as a Champions League winners medal, he also boasts two La Liga titles, two Club World Cups, a Spanish Cup and 55 international caps for Uruguay. This season, he has contributed one goal and two assists in 18 La Liga appearances for the Spanish giants.

At present, they are on course to win the league, as they are leading second placed Girona on goal difference.