Unai Emery still loves Ever Banega as a player and a person, according to the midfielder’s father, and that could be key to the Argentine international’s next move.

The media consistently linked Arsenal to a move for Banega over the summer, particularly during the World Cup. Unai Emery seemingly led the charge to try and bring in his former player, and reportedly even contacted him personally to try and win him over.

It seems the midfielder didn’t want the move though, at least not then. He only has a €20m release clause, which isn’t particularly substantial for a club like Arsenal. If the 30-year-old had been keen to join his former coach Unai Emery in the Premier League, it would’ve been difficult for Sevilla to stop him. Unfortunately it seems he wasn’t.

According to Estadio Deportivo, that could still change in the future. They quote Daniel Banega, Ever’s father, as saying that the Arsenal boss “loves him (Ever) very much” both as a player and as a person. They write that this “could be key if Sevilla and the player do not reach an understanding” in terms of his contract renewal.

The player no longer has an agent, after choosing to part ways with Marcelo Simonian. Instead he works together with his father in negotiations with Sevilla and outside clubs. We’ll see what the two of them decide in the coming transfer windows.