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Arsène Wenger is facing a battle to keep Mathieu Flamini at Arsenal after talks over a new contract stalled. The France midfield player’s present deal expires at the end of the season, enabling him to sign a pre-contract agreement with another club next month. Juventus are interested in securing his services.
Flamini has been one of Arsenal’s most consistent performers this season and was not impressed with the club’s initial offer of £40,000 a week when talks opened last week. The 23-year-old threatened to leave when he was struggling to get into the side last season, but he has been outstanding during this campaign, leaving Gilberto Silva resigned to a place on the substitutes’ bench.
Flamini claims he wants to stay in North London but is adamant that he deserves to move into line with his more established team-mates as he is still being paid under the terms of his first professional contract, which he signed four years ago. The former Marseilles player has displayed a stubborn streak in the past, going back on his agreement to sign a professional contract with the French club as a teenager to secure a move to Arsenal.
“I am a free agent in January, so we will see what happens,” Flamini said. “I am happy here, but we will see. I have been talking a bit with the club a few days ago and now I am going to see. We have so many games in December, so it is very difficult to be concentrated on this kind of thing as we are playing every three days. I am just focused on every game. As for the contract, we will see a bit later.”
Arsenal have lost several players in recent seasons as a result of their rigid pay structure, with Edu and Ashley Cole rejecting contract offers to move elsewhere, and Wenger, the manager, has several unhappy midfield players on his hands. Lassana Diarra has stated his desire to leave because of a lack of first-team opportunities, while Gilberto’s future is also uncertain.
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£40,000 seems more than enough for a player of Flamini's calibre. He's a stoppper, not a creator. If he doesn't like it then goodbye, Diarra will be much better anyway.
James, London,
ALL premiership footballers are overpaid and greedy... true, some more than others. Try doing a 'real' job earning 'real' money. They don't know how lucky they are. They may retire at 35 / 36, but they'll never need to work again. As much as i love football and pay stupid prices to go to games, i think the players are paid far too much. 40 grand a week.... I'll snap it up.
Stu Bailey, London,
i think as he has had a good season, he wants to get to the next level in the pay structure.......if you can pay GALLAS somewhere around 160,000 pounds a week, then i m sure they can cough up some amount to pay FLAMINI as well.....I think if he plays well, he may get a big offer from JUVE or any other club.....so,i think he will be burning all the steam he can make up for that elusive deal....
vignesh, new delhi, INDIA
Asenal have the second highest wage bill in the prem. How can u call them cheap!
martin king, derry, n.i
'Arsenal expoloit their players'? Get a grip on reality, 40K a week is hardly exploitation. The players at Arsenal stay because they enjoy their football better than Chelsea where paychecks are the priorty (Case and point been Ashley Cole) over quality of playing style. They say this themselves (Hleb, Cesc, Rosicky etc). Exploitation of footballers...What planet are you on. You want to see exploitation go to developing countries and witness someone work for a $ a day.
Finbarr, Dublin,
Flamini will stay. He is happy playing at Arsenal. Of course he wants more money, and he also knows he's onto a good thing with Arsenal. Wisdom will prevail, he will sign for not much more than is on offer and hopefully his great form will continue.
Boz, Sévaz, Switzerland
Arsenal is soooo Bloody cheap!!!! They exploit their players, even Fulham pays better than Arsenal. I always keep wondering why all these fantatstic players decide to stay with them. Flamini, you could make twice that amount in italy or Spain and have a better chance of a champion league medal.
tk, geneva,
Flamini isn't going anywhere, it's just quibbling over details.
mark, newcastle,
"The boy is about football not money, that should be refreshing. "
Are you having a giggle, It's all about a petulant player throwing his toys out precisely because of the money. I am sure he will focus on his games as he has obviously now put himself firmly in the shop window and will want the very best bid.
JonO, Canarias, Spain
âI am a free agent in January, so we will see what happens,â highlights perhaps he isnt so much about football and not money. He is well entitled to seek the best deal for himself but to claim the bosman ruling is refreshing is a bit of a slap in the face. Wenger putting his faith and support with Flamini and he gets that sort of response. Lucky he is in french and in purple patch right now other wise I'm sure discussions would be firmly closed.
Julian, the city,
Way to skew what he actually said so it turns into a negative. Typical press drivel. Exacerbating a non issue. Let the boy focus on his game, and sort through the deal later. The boy is about football not money, that should be refreshing.
josh, london,