Inter Milan midfielder, Piotr Zielinski, recently revealed that he was on the brink of joining Arsenal and several other top-tier clubs. However, his former club Napoli refused to sell him, leading to a missed opportunity for these teams.
Zielinski spent nearly a decade with Napoli before moving to Inter Milan as a free agent at the start of this season. During his tenure with the Naples club, he attracted interest from some of England's top football teams including Arsenal and Liverpool. Despite this interest from major clubs in one of Europe’s most competitive leagues, Napoli remained steadfast in their decision not to sell.
The unfulfilled transfer opportunities
The 30-year-old Poland international has now opened up about these potential moves that could have significantly altered his career trajectory. In an interview, Zielinski shared insights into the transfer opportunities that were on the table but never materialized due to Napoli's refusal to let him go.
Inter Milan midfielder, Piotr Zielinski, said:
“Liverpool sent a private jet to Florence for me and I flew with my agent Bartlomiej Bolek – we drove up to [Jurgen] Klopp’s house afterwards, we had a great conversation. It was the first time I had flown like that. He said that for him I was a mix of [Ilkay] Gundogan and [Cesc] Fabregas.
“We watched a Premier League match at his place on his giant TV, I had never seen anything like that either. Arsenal were closer to realisation than Barcelona because De Laurentiis didn’t want a few boys from La Masia in return.”
This revelation adds another layer of intrigue for sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts alike who closely follow player transfers and their potential impact on team dynamics and performance.
Loss for Napoli?
Napoli's decision not to sell Zielinski might have seemed like a smart move at the time, but they eventually lost him for nothing when he moved to Inter Milan as a free agent. This raises questions about whether Napoli could have capitalized on the interest in Zielinski from top English clubs and secured a lucrative deal.
The story of Piotr Zielinski's almost-transfer to Arsenal is an intriguing tale of missed opportunities and strategic decisions in football transfers. It offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics of player transfers, providing both sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts with food for thought. As Zielinksi continues his career at Inter Milan, one can only speculate how different things might have been had Napoli agreed to sell him during his prime years.
