Juan Cuadrado says that he never really considered leaving Juventus this summer, after links with Arsenal in the summer.

The S*n reported the quotes, and wrote “Juan Cuadrado talks Arsenal bid”, which he most certainly did not. Cuadrado makes no mention of a bid from Arsenal, and nor have any other reliable publications.

However, rumours have persisted anyway, so it’s no surprise The S*n would jump on the quotes to try and draw a link between the two. What Cuadrado actually said was: “I’ve never really thought of leaving Juventus. I am happy to have stayed here because this club trusts me.

“I am happy with my performances and I am happy with my new team-mates as well.”

A much more general comment about being happy to stay, then, not about Arsenal.

As I’ve said from the start of the summer, I really don’t see that Arsenal have much to gain from chasing Cuadrado anyway.

The Gunners have enough forward players to field Welbeck-Lacazette-Iwobi one game, Alexis-Giroud-Walcott the next, and still have Özil to fit back in, Reiss Nelson forced out to wing-back with Lucas Perez and Joel Campbell loaned out, along with Takuma Asano and Stephy Mavididi.

I make that 12 players for three positions, before you even take into account youngsters who haven’t yet made their debut, like Eddie Nketiah.

Cuadrado didn’t particularly show he was a world beater at Chelsea. Buying the Colombian didn’t make much sense in July and doesn’t make any more sense now, given he’ll be 30 by next summer.