Haven't really watched this guy. A ScoutNation video later, my expertise lends me to believe he is a well rounded left winger with an eye for a pass and for a goal. Think his stats are a bit padded since he seems to take all set pieces; that usually gives you a few goals and assists. He also seems to be a turtle. 🙂

His showing he would like to come also makes me think there is no interest at all from us.

Would give us the push we need to win the league. Nolito-Ozil-Sanchez looks brilliant on paper.

I don't really watch La Liga. Should I be more excited about Nolito than I am?

He's quite good but so is Aspas on the same team.

He's a bit of a late bloomer but it's his own fault. He was playing for Barcelona B till he was 25.

He'd be an Arshavin-esque signing for us if we do get him. However, at that price, I'd rather get Inaki Williams before his release clause doubles to 40m euros.

edit: Candreva is also available for 20m euros too.

Not sure about "his own fault", he moved to Barcelona just three years before that from a lower league club. He's certainly a late bloomer alright.

He's class Daz, for the fee bandied about there are very few if any players on his level. His age is a factor but I've no doubt that he'd be a success here. In the form he's been for more than a year now I reckon he'd start for pretty much every team in the world bar the big three/four.

@[deleted] I think Barca and Real would be happy to see him leave Spain!

I haven't seen him but if he is as good as suggested then age shouldn't matter at the indicated price. Arsenal will sometime need to start taking short term punts for immediate success.

Bryant wrote:

@[deleted] I think Barca and Real would be happy to see him leave Spain!

Yeah, seems to score or assist in every game against either.

Good info by the way on Inaki, didn't know that the clause is just 20m at the moment. If he develops the way I expect him too he'll be worth double that no question about it. I like about him that he knows how to play all roles in the front three to a high level, he can get used to England at RW before moving up front in a year or two and go on to break Henry's records for us.

Bilbao are notoriously difficult to deal with though, probably a deal breaker with Wenger who's the worst negotiator in history.

jones wrote:

Not sure about "his own fault", he moved to Barcelona just three years before that from a lower league club. He's certainly a late bloomer alright.

He's class Daz, for the fee bandied about there are very few if any players on his level. His age is a factor but I've no doubt that he'd be a success here. In the form he's been for more than a year now I reckon he'd start for pretty much every team in the world bar the big three/four.

Well as you said he moved from a lower league club to Barcelona at 22. Unless he had a Bendtner-type opinion of himself surely he could see that he wouldn't get much game time in a squad that boasted of Eto'o, Messi, Ronaldinho, Henry among others at the time.

He moved to Barcelona B, pretty sure he knew he was never in contention for the first team. His move was from a third tier team to another team from the same division, except for a couple of appearances for the first team where he made himself known his highest level of experience before his move to Benfica at 25 was one season in Liga Adelante.

I'd say signing a 29 year old who has never played in the PL is quite a big risk. We have seen players like Alexis, Costa and Aguero hit the ground running when they came into the league, but there are many examples of players who have taken a season to get fully up to speed with this league. This cat could potentially be in physical decline before he is settled. 🙂

Does it really matter what he did when he was 25? There is a reason that he's Luis Enrique's no. 1 transfer target.

jones wrote:

He moved to Barcelona B, pretty sure he knew he was never in contention for the first team. His move was from a third tier team to another team from the same division, except for a couple of appearances for the first team where he made himself known his highest level of experience before his move to Benfica at 25 was one season in Liga Adelante.

So it was his own fault then that he went to a club where he'd play reserve football instead of regular first team football.

I think he is really good and at this point of time we shouldn't be caring whether he is 29 or not. He is a late bloomer so he will have 4 or 5 years worth if he moves here.

I will take him, he is quality and can have an Arshavin impact on our team.

monreal was "older" and wasnt at real or barca when we signed him. that seemed to work out okay

I'll take him. He's got to be better than Joel Campbell.

Don't know if it is a purple patch but this guy has been incredible this season. For £13m even it doesn't work out you can't go wrong.