According to Daily Mirror journalist John Cross, Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky wanted to join Aston Villa over the summer.
The experienced Czech international, who turned 34 on Sunday, is currently out after surgery on his knee but Cross told members of the Arsenal Supporter’s Trust that he wanted to leave in the summer.
According to @johncrossmirror, Tomáš #Rosický wanted to join Aston Villa this summer, but Arsenal refused. pic.twitter.com/2n9CiIunZC
— Messi Minutes (@MessiMinutes) October 5, 2015
Rosicky only made 15 Premier League appearances last season, and his career is clearly approaching the end. Still a valuable member of the squad, you can see why Arsenal were reluctant to let him go. The Gunners had an option to extend his current deal by a year and took up it, preventing any move.
Understandably, Rosicky wants to play regularly while he still can. That wouldn’t have happened so far this season anyway, and whether or not he’d like to stay in England remains to be seen. Many suspect he would like a move back to his first club, Sparta Prague, in his native Czech Republic. They also showed an interest in him over the summer.
The midfielder is still needed at the Emirates Stadium, so he may just have to grin and bear it.