• Primera Liga

Vela's agent rules out Arsenal return

ESPN staff
June 8, 2013
Carlos Vela wants to remain with Real Sociedad © Getty Images
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Carlos Vela is likely to stay at Real Sociedad next season despite a clause in his contract that would allow Arsenal to buy him back for £4 million in the summer window, his agent has said.

Vela, 24, made a permanent move from Arsenal to Sociedad last summer after spending the previous year on loan there.

He played a key role for the Basque side, scoring 14 times as they saw off competition from Valencia to clinch a Champions League play-off place.

And the Mexican attacker's performances sparked speculation that Arsene Wenger could activate Arsenal's option to buy him back, either to play him themselves or to sell him on for a higher fee.

But agent Eduardo Hernandez told Mexican newspaper La Aficion he was confident that his client would still be a Sociedad player at the end of the transfer window.

"I had a chat with the people at La Real after the game where they sealed their qualification for the Champions League," he explained.

"They told me they are very happy with Carlos and that they want to keep him, despite Arsenal's buy-back option. I am sure that we will see Carlos there, although this will not end until August."

Vela has also spent loan spells at Celta Vigo, Salamanca, Osasuna and West Bromwich Albion during his time with the Gunners, but Hernandez said he was now showing what he could do.

"I believe that, with work, he has made the most of the talent he has," he added.

"He has shown on the pitch just who Carlos Vela is. There are lots of rumours about him and parties, but this year he has been praised by the Spanish media."

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