• Premier League

Wenger hits back at Barca in youngster row

ESPN staff
February 25, 2011
Arsene Wenger: 'We have done what just is legal' © PA Photos
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Arsene Wenger has defended Arsenal's pursuit of Barcelona youngster Jon Toral by insisting that the Gunners have done nothing illegal by trying to sign the player.

Barcelona have made clear their unhappiness over Arsenal's move for the 16-year-old, with president Sandro Roselli branding it "a little immoral" due to the player's age.

But Wenger, who has previously poached Cesc Fabregas, Ignasi Miquel and Fran Merida from the Catalan club, denies that there is anything wrong with the Gunners' policy.

"You forget that this boy is English," Wenger said. "He has an English passport, his mother is from England and hopefully he will join us in the summer. We have players who leave us for other professional clubs in England.

"We have done what just is legal. I love Barcelona, I love Catalonia - I have nothing against them, but when a player who is half English and Spanish wants to join us, why should we turn him down if its all legal?

"If we have done something illegal, I will say 'sorry, my boy, we cannot do it'. Plenty of players leave us under exactly the same rule."

The Gunners boss also took a swipe at Barcelona's own youth team, hinting that they were no stranger to snatching players. "I do not want to go further on [Roselli's comments] because it is very difficult," he said. "If you go in the academy of Barcelona and you look where all the players come from, come back to me and we can talk about it."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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