Andrea Berta could seek inspiration from one historic Arsenal transfer in an attempt to land one summer target.
As the opening of the summer transfer market fast approaches, Berta will be looking to make his first window as Arsenal’s sporting director count.
The Italian’s instructions are clear: bolster Arsenal’s attack and depth to ensure Mikel Arteta’s squad are ready to challenge for major silverware in the 2025/26 campaign.
Arsenal have already been linked to an array of forwards, including Rodrygo, who is rumoured to be open to leaving Real Madrid in the summer.
Alexis Sanchez’s transfer must inspire Arsenal to sign Rodrygo
Reports claim that Arsenal have made contact with Rodrygo over a possible transfer, as Arteta looks to strengthen his depth in the wide areas.
Being a player capable of playing on the left and the right flank, Rodrygo certainly fits the bill, but when taking a glance at the Gunners’ transfer history, there’s another reason why Berta must take a chance on the 24-year-old.
Rodrygo’s career at Real Madrid is similar to that of Alexis Sanchez’s at Barcelona, the club the Chilean was signed from when he made the move to North London in 2014.
It was a statement signing for Arsene Wenger on the back of a La Liga campaign that saw the forward score 19 goals for Barcelona.
Though Sanchez’s brilliance was there for all to see at the Camp Nou, he was never the protagonist, being a great player in the shadows of generational stars such as Lionel Messi and Neymar.
The same could be said about Rodrygo right now, who, when lining up alongside Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe, is often subconsciously regarded as Real Madrid’s ugly duckling.
A player with 118 goal contributions for Los Blancos by the age of 24 is by no means deserving of such a title, but, in an alternate view, it’s just why Arsenal should push to sign him.
Rodrygo could become the protagonist at Arsenal
The parallels between Sanchez and Rodrygo are quite astonishing, as Arsenal acquired the Chile international as a 25-year-old, one year the Brazilian’s senior.
Having won two Champions League medals at Real Madrid, there’s no guarantee that Rodrygo would actually want to leave, but if a greater role is what he desires, then a transfer could be wise.
Sanchez’s former teammate Dani Alves opened up about the ex-Arsenal winger’s struggles at Barcelona, insisting that in Catalonia, he would’ve never been the protagonist that he needed to be.
“He’s a great player, and I always knew that he would be a success when he left,” Alves told the Daily Mail in 2016.
Arsenal saw what Sanchez could offer from his days at Barcelona, and the transfer transpired to be the move of the Chilean’s dreams. Take note, Rodrygo.
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