Arsenal 21yo confirms Atletico Madrid wished him

Christhian has confirmed Atletico Madrid made contact to signal him earlier than his transfer to north London, forward of dealing with them within the Champions League semi-final.

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Christhian Mosquera has revealed that Atletico Madrid made contact to signal him in 2024, earlier than Arsenal secured the defender from for €15m in the summertime.

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Now valued at €35m and getting ready to face Atletico within the Champions League semi-final, Mosquera admitted the Spanish facet had proven curiosity previous to his transfer to north London, although he left these discussions to his agent.

“It’s true that one thing was sounded out,” Mosquera . “My agent is the one who takes care of all the problems associated to my future, I ask him to not inform me something till there’s something very concrete, so he’s the one who handles it. However it’s true that there was some contact with Atlético.”

The 21-year-old has settled shortly into Mikel Arteta’s squad, working at centre-back when wanted and filling in at right-back, as Arsenal proceed their push for each the Premier League and Champions League.

Talking forward of the semi-final, Mosquera insisted the squad stay calm regardless of exterior stress. “Properly, inside the noise that has been exterior and that continues to be, contained in the locker room we’re calm and assured that our work goes to offer that reward that we would like,” he mentioned.” “It’s time to come back out on prime and get that persona and face in these matches that include the utmost perspective which you can, as a result of that would be the approach to take it ahead.”

Picture by Mike Hewitt/Getty Photographs

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He additionally echoed Arteta’s view that the present second needs to be embraced quite than feared. “I don’t suppose that’s it. Many issues are talked about from the skin till evidently they’re the reality, however it isn’t so. We hear the phrase stress quite a bit, but it surely’s not stress in any respect. Because the supervisor says, it’s actually a possibility that we wish to make historical past with this membership and that’s how we took it, with the conviction that we may seize it.”

Arsenal head into the tie having returned to the highest of the Premier League after victory over Newcastle, whereas additionally reaching the final 4 in Europe, one thing Mosquera believes displays the staff’s progress.

“They’re two very good competitions,” he mentioned. “We’re privileged to be right here, however now we have earned being alive in each and are preventing to win them. That is concerning the a lot talked about match-to-match. We targeted on the Premier League on the weekend and now the Champions League is coming and our focus is on this match.”

Waiting for Atletico, Mosquera made clear there can be no underestimating the Spanish facet. “I couldn’t inform you if there’s any favourites, however Atleti is Atleti,” he mentioned.

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“They’re at all times going to make it tough for you and are going to battle it to the top. It’s going to be a really tough playoff, we all know that. However we’re going to go to Madrid with every thing after which we are going to obtain you right here. We’ve got the dream of reaching the Champions League closing and we’re going to do every thing to be in that match.”

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He additionally pointed to the significance of the second leg being in London, whereas stressing Arsenal’s intent to take management within the first. “Sure, it is a crucial issue that now we have earned. We’re invincible within the Champions League to date and having our followers within the second leg is one thing that may play in our favour. However we’re going to the Metropolitan with the thought of successful.”

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Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Atletico earlier within the competitors stays a reference level for the squad. “We’re in a fairly totally different second of the season, however that sport is there as a result of it has been on this similar marketing campaign,” Mosquera mentioned. “And it reveals that we’re able to beating a staff like Atletico Madrid like that and it offers you that psychological power that we’re able to, after all we’re.”

Mosquera additionally outlined the problem posed by Atletico’s model. “Atlético is a staff that actually likes open areas when it steals the ball and has very harmful gamers on the counter-attack. And it’s a staff that additionally has weaknesses and we are going to work on them. We’ll push to harm them and rating objectives like we did within the sport we performed within the league section. I feel one of many keys can be to go for them.”