David Raya’s agent, Jaume Munell, has confirmed that his client was always Arsenal’s top goalkeeping choice.
David Raya’s agent has confirmed what many Arsenal fans suspected: his client was always Arsenal’s preferred choice for the goalkeeper position.
Munell, in a conversation with AFTV, explained that Arsenal’s interest in Raya started in 2021, the summer they eventually signed Aaron Ramsdale.
He stated, “Arsenal showed interest for the first time three years ago in 2021. They tried to buy him but Brentford didn’t want to sell him at any price.”
With the pursuit of Raya at a dead end, Arsenal signed Ramsdale for £30 million less than two weeks before th eend of the transfer window.
Despite Ramsdale’s significant impact at the club, Munell stated, “After they bought Ramsdale, that was an easier option, but David has always been the priority.”
Raya’s journey to Arsenal was also influenced by interest from other major clubs, including Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Tottenham, and Manchester United.
Munell disclosed that Tottenham’s bid for Raya was below Brentford’s £34.9 million asking price, and Bayern Munich’s loan offer was not pursued due to a lack of a buy option.
Raya eventually joined Arsenal this season on a loan with a £27 million purchase option.
“This summer, he had just one year left on his contract with Brentford and Arsenal was the club that showed the most concrete interest and have always been our priority,” he added.
Raya displaced Ramsdale from the number one spot as quickly as Ramsdale himself replaced Bernd Leno after his arrival.
Leno was sold to Fulham the following summer for £3.6m (when he was valued at €11m), having made just a further four appearances after Ramsdale arrived, three in the League Cup and one in the FA Cup.
Since Raya arrived, Ramsdale has played two League Cup games.
He will, at least, get to play against Brentford, with loan rules in the Premier League prohibiting a player facing his parent club.
That’s more than Bernd Leno ever got.
Mikel Arteta on Aaron Ramsdale
Ahead of Arsenal’s game against Burnley at the Emirates, Mikel Arteta was asked about Aaron Ramsdale’s future in the wake of Gareth Southgate’s comments.
The England manager had said, “We have to see how the situation develops. I have spoken to him about it.
“He is fighting for a place at Arsenal. We love his profile and the things he offers, among other things, in the game with the ball.
“But as a keeper, the reality is that if we get to March, and six months have passed without regular playing time, then I can’t make any guarantees. Aaron knows that well. He is completely realistic about it all.”
Of course, that logic only applies to Ramsdale. There are plenty of others Southgate continues to pick who aren’t playing.
About the situation, Arteta said, “Well, first of all my door is open to speak to any player.
“We just want the best for our players, and we know the influence that we can have, sometimes positively, sometimes not so positively towards them.
“We will always try to do our best to help them, but this is a team sport that needs 24 players that you have to fulfil a role.
“And the role that you have in August, it might be very different to the one you have in March.
“So, making early decisions in my experience is not something good at all. And as well because the team has certain needs that have to be accomplished.
“In order to do that you cannot do it with 6, 10 or 14 players. It is impossible. So, you need everyone, and Aaron has a really important role in the team.”
Then asked if he had a message for clubs interested in signing Ramsdale in January, he replied, “I have no message for any clubs. I can talk about my players, how much I like my players, how much I like Aaron, and that we want Aaron with us, that’s for sure.”