Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has revealed how close he was to signing Angel Di Maria when he was just 17-years-old.
The Argentine international is now applying his trade at fierce-rivals, Manchester United, after agreeing to move there in the Summer from Spanish giants, Real Madrid.
However, things could have been different for Di Maria if only he had been allowed a work permit.
‘We had identified Di Maria when he was 17,’ Wenger said.
‘We saw him in an international competition and we wanted him to come here, but he went to Portugal and then to Spain.
‘Why? Because he could not get a work permit for England.
‘Ideally it would open completely and anyone can come in.’
Arsenal are currently having the same issue with Gabriel Paulista from Villarreal as fears grow he won’t be able to get a permit.
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles
