Super agent Kia Joorabchian has hit back at Jamie Carragher for claiming he was responsible for getting Arsenal to sign Willian by saying Mikel Arteta was determined to make him his ‘number one signing’ at the club.

Willian signed for Arsenal last summer on a free transfer from Chelsea, penning a three-year deal when Chelsea only offered him a two-year one. There are reports that he could be on his way this summer, although a recent interview Willian gave in Brazil seems to hang a big question mark over those rumours.

Handed substantial wages, many placed the ‘blame’ for Willian’s signing on Kia Joorabchian, who also represents David Luiz, Cedric and Edu.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher said, “I really like (Mikel) Arteta.

“There’s a lot of nonsense around the club – bringing players, buying players. I think some signings were a joke. In terms of bringing Willian in, Luiz in, Cedric in.

“Is Kia Joorabchian making signings at the club? Mikel Arteta has brought in Thomas Partey and Gabriel. They look like Arsenal’s two best players at this moment, certainly early stages this season.”

Joorabchian then responded to those comments, saying, “I’m very surprised because Jamie is one of the people that monopolises Sky Sports commentary. Sky Sports producers pay a lot of money to him, so I can’t understand why he doesn’t check his facts before he speaks.

“The fact is I had nothing to do with the signing of Willian. If Jamie had bothered to check with Mikel or Edu, they would have said Mikel presented three different times to convince Willian to be his number one signing at Arsenal.”

Willian is represented by Sports Invest UK, which is owned by Joorabchian.

So far this season, he has played 37 times for Arsenal, scoring one and assisting seven.