No, it wasn’t so he could play on the same team as Denilson and Mikaël Silvestre.
In 2008, both Manchester United and Arsenal slugged it out to try to sign a 17-year-old Aaron Ramsey from Cardiff City. The Welsh man ended up opting for the Gunners in a deal worth £4.8 million.
Ramsey recently revealed his reasons behind snubbing a move to Manchester United in favour of joining Arsenal, and they’re pretty obvious. He admitted that Wenger’s penchant for developing young talent was a major factor in his decision.
“He [Wenger] likes to get young kids with talent and natural ability and turn them into world-class players,”
“He’s done that on many occasions in the past – he’ll continue doing that. His experience, knowing how to deal with [young players] is quite remarkable.
“He gets his satisfaction from seeing them develop as a player – and as a person as well – and gives them information on the pitch, and opportunities to go out there, play, and express themselves”.
Wenger’s faith paid off as Ramsey has gone on to break into the Arsenal first team, even after suffering a horrific leg break in 2010. Now the challenge seems to be holding onto the midfielder with reported interest from Barcelona. Ramsey closed the interview with a quote that might cause Gooners some panic over his future.
“One day I would like to go over to Spain to play just to see what it’s like and to experience that. But at the moment I’m with Arsenal and I feel like this Arsenal team can go and be successful and challenge for things.”
Hat-tip to the Mirror
