I’m certainly not saying that’s the case, but with Jack Wilshere’s contract at Arsenal still sitting on the table, it’s a strange set of quotes from AC Milan’s Gennaro Gattuso.
With Arsenal set to host AC Milan on Thursday evening in the second leg of the Europa League – we go into the game with a two nil advantage – Gattuso has been quoted this evening by Sky Sports as seriously praising up our 26 year old former Academy graduate.
Their head coach praised the England international for having the ‘personality’ of a typical English footballer but tellingly with the ‘quality of a Spanish player’ who was capable of playing in any league across the planet.
‘I think he can play in any league. He might not be super fast, but he has great skills, he’s very technical. When he gets the ball he knows exactly where to send it, he gets the right pace, he can change a game. He can play central midfield or further out. He had a few physical problems but he’s got great talent. He can still express a lot and give a lot. I don’t know how he’s going to end up with his contract but I always admire him for his quality. He’s a very different sort of player. He’s got the personality of an English footballer, but the same quality of a Spanish player – two different cultures, which I like a lot.’
Now of course both sides are on the verge of an important clash in both of their fixtures lists this season given relative ambitions and relative success so far, so clearly mind games are afoot and if they aren’t, a mind game will be seriously started within the mainstream press to amp up feelings.
That’s the nature of modern football but with Wilshere out of contract this summer, and with rules dictating that any player out of contract in the final 6 months of their existing deal can agree pre contractual terms with a club based abroad…I don’t know, maybe I’m over thinking things?
With Wilshere’s injury worries, many would’ve thought he’d snap at a new deal, but equally others would argue with Arsene Wenger’s rotation and selection, given his injury worries Wilshere maybe now wants a fresh start so assessing his options and not jumping at the first deal offered is the way to go and hugely understandable really – especially in a less physical league than the English top flight so he can really get himself going again.
Just seems strange timing, but with his performance against AC Milan in the first leg it also makes extreme sense as to why he’d figure in the questioning but I wouldn’t have thought Gattuso would be that direct in response?
