Joel Campbell’s agent, Joaquim Batica, has come out in support of his client, who has been linked with a move away from Arsenal this summer.

  • Campbell signed for Arsenal in 2011 but didn’t obtain work permit until 2013
  • Has been out on loan five times to Lorient, Real Betis, Olympiakos, Villarreal and Sporting
  • Made 19 Liga NOS appearances last season, scoring three, assisting four
  • Agent uses Manchester United goal to demonstrate how good he is
  • Reveals Olympiakos wanted to sign Campbell permanently
  • What’s next for Joel Campbell?

Campbell‘s agent appears surprised that the forward’s not been more successful since joining Arsenal six years ago.

“At Olympiakos, Joel had important success and the club tried several times to buy him,” Batica told Lucarne Opposee [via Goal].

“Arsenal have lent him several times, but I emphasise that last year he played about 30 matches in all. 

“At Sporting, I think that overall it has been a difficult season for the club and at the end of the season we saw less game time as a loan player. It is normal that the club favours the players that belong to it. 

“He was the centrepiece of a club who are regularly champions and make the Champions League – where he scored against Manchester United and they were eliminated. 

“I think that as a 24-year-old player who has played in the Champions League, played a quarter-final of the World Cup, took part in championships in Spain, France, England, Greece, Portugal, he has a very important background.

“He continues to work every day to accumulate a significant number of games each year.”

Despite signing for Arsenal from Saprissa in 2011, Campbell has only ever made 23 league appearances and has been sent out on loan five times.

While the Costa Rica international saw himself get some game time due to first team injuries during the 2015/16 season, he’s otherwise struggled to cement himself in north London, or at any of his loan teams except for perhaps Olympiakos, as his agent mentioned.

The 24-year-old has been linked with a move to Brighton this summer, as well as Fenerbahce, Besiktas, and Galatasaray.

Considering Campbell’s Arsenal deal runs out next season, it looks almost certain that he’ll leave soon.