SOCCER NEWS:ARSENE WENGER'S long-term commitment to Arsenal appeared to waver publicly for the first time last night when the club's manager of 13 years chose not to rebuff the possibility of a future role at Real Madrid and conceded the prospect of working under Florentino Perez in Spain would be "interesting".
Reports in France have suggested Perez, the former Real president who announced his candidacy to stand for the position again last week, met Wenger in Paris last week and has since confirmed he would seek to lure the Frenchman as part of a “spectacular project” to revive the Spanish club’s fortunes should he return, as expected, to the Bernabeu by winning Real’s presidential election this summer.
Wenger was first contacted by Perez over a potential move four years ago and has since grown used to being linked with a move to La Liga. Usually he dismisses any interest by reaffirming his loyalty to Arsenal. However, when asked his opinion on Perez’s plans for Real during an interview on the French television programme Telefoot, broadcast by the French channel TF1 with whom Wenger works as a pundit, the 59-year-old was more evasive.
“With Florentino Perez in charge, the project he has put forward would be interesting for any coach but I would prefer not to comment on this,” he said. When asked whether he intended to honour his contract at Arsenal, which runs until 2011, he added: “In general I usually stay until the end of my contract.”
That represents the first occasion when Wenger has not simply responded to links with rival clubs by stressing his future is with Arsenal, with the timing of his comments potentially alarming for the Premier League club’s board. He has only ever sought to sever one contract during his managerial career to date – when he left AS Nancy-Lorraine for Monaco back in 1987 – yet there have been recent signs of strain in Wenger’s demeanour as he endures a fourth consecutive season without silverware at the Emirates stadium.
Only last week he admitted supporters’ frustrations had left him perplexed. “You sit here, you are in the last four in Europe, and every day you feel you have killed someone,” he said. “It is unbelievable. We lose against Man United who have 10 times more resources, it’s not a shame. They are the best in the world. Congratulations to them. If you play tennis tomorrow and you lose against Nadal, you can still say you are a good player.”
His comments will serve as a timely warning to those on the Arsenal board, and the club’s recently-appointed chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, in particular, he will seek significant funds to strengthen his team.
The major shareholder and director Danny Fiszman has consistently stated the manager has money to spend, though Wenger said last summer he must sell one of his players for a significant fee each summer to re-invest in his squad. That player is likely to be Emmanuel Adebayor this year.
Meanwhile, Kaka has no deal to join Real Madrid if Perez wins the Spanish club’s presidential election, the Brazil playmakers agent and father said on Saturday. Spanish newspapers said Kaka had agreed a five-year deal and would move for around €60 million.
Guardian Service
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