• Premier League

Malaga boss says Cazorla won't join Arsenal for €20m

ESPN staff
July 26, 2012
Santi Cazorla is strongly linked to Arsenal © PA Photos
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Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini does not believe the club's owners would accept a €20 million bid for Santi Cazorla from Arsenal.

Spain international Cazorla, 27, signed for Malaga from Villarreal for €19 million last summer, but the big-spending club have since been suffering financial problems including the non-payment of wages and bonuses.

It was reported that the Gunners had agreed a €20 million deal for the winger, who has reportedly asked to leave Malaga, although Arsene Wenger later denied a move was close.

However, Arsenal are not the only club to have been credited with an interest in the player and, given that Malaga are currently unable to sign players, it is thought Malaga will be looking to offload players to solve their debt issues as soon as possible.

Having qualified for the Champions League, though, Pellegrini believes the club should not accept what he deems to be artificially low offers.

"There is an offer, they say, for Santi Cazorla," Pellegrini told a press conference. "To sell him for €20 million would be to give him away. I don't think the club intends to do that.

"I've talked a lot with [vice-president] Abdullah Ghubn and with the Sheikh and this would not be representative of their mentality. It would send out the wrong signal ahead of our Champions League campaign.

"If significant offers come in for players they are worthy of consideration, but I don't think Santi will be leaving for €20 million."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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