Dusan Vlahovic agent uses four words to explain Arsenal snub as Fiorentina sign West Ham target as replacement
Dusan Vlahovic has spoken openly and honestly about why he decided to sign for Juventus, while his agent has used just four words to explain the striker turning his back on Arsenal.
Vlahovic arrived in Turin on Friday morning to undergo a medical and rubberstamp his move from Fiorentina. Juve have a agreed a €70m plus deal, with €5m add ons. The 22-year-old, who was being chased hard by the Gunners, will earn €7m per season.
ESPN report that Arsenal are angry with the player’s representatives and believe their interest was used as a smokescreen by Vlahovic’s camp to get a move to Juventus.
It leaves the Gunners desperately hunting for a striker with Monday’s transfer deadline closing in.
Mikel Arteta is particularly light in attack after ostracising Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for off-the-field matters.
As such, a report on Saturday morning claims Arteta wil either make an emergency plan – or face a staggering £75m bill.
Ultimately, it was Arsenal’s lack of Champions League football which resulted in Vlahovic snubbing their interest.
That is a competition he is desperate to prove himself in, with the Old Lady facing a round-of-16 clash with Villarreal next month.
Vlahovic has the happiest of birthdays
Explaining his reasons for signing for Juventus, Vlahovic admits he cannot wait to get started.
“Juventus represents pride, tradition, family. Juventus are always there until the last minute, they never give up,” the Serbian striker claimed.
“The team always comes first. I am at the disposal of the coach and my teammates, who I will try to help in the best way possible.
“We always want more, and we want to improve in the future. Today is my birthday, which is really wonderful, a special day for me.
“This is one of the happiest birthdays I’ve experienced so far. I want to make Juventus proud. We will always fight for all goals, as they say, fino alle fine!”
While he did not mention Arsenal directly, the striker’s agent has issued a simple response when asked why he was joining the Old Lady.
He told reporters: “Juventus are always Juventus…”
Fiorentina sign Cabral as replacement
Fiorentina, meanwhile, have acted fast to sign Vlahovic’s replacement in the form of Brazilian striker Arthur Cabral.
Welcome Arthur #ForzaViola #Fiorentina #ACFFiorentina #Cabral pic.twitter.com/RFaMlhfM2V
— ACF Fiorentina English (@ACFFiorentinaEN) January 29, 2022
The FC Basel man was also being chased by West Ham – but he signs for La Viola for a fee of around €16m.
The move, confirmed by Fiorentina on Saturday morning, has seen Cabral sign a deal worth €1.7m per season in wages.
Cabral will be in line to make his Fiorentina debut in their upcoming Serie A clash against Lazio on February 5.
The Hammers, meanwhile, are reportedly pursuing a deal to sign Stade Reims striker Hugo Ekitike.
READ MORE: Arsenal receive two ‘official’ Aubameyang offers; decision swayed by second deal
The post Dusan Vlahovic agent uses four words to explain Arsenal snub as Fiorentina sign West Ham target as replacement appeared first on TEAMtalk.