Hleb wants to follow Flamini out of Arsenal
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
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Alexander Hleb remains hopeful that he will follow his team-mate, and friend, Mathieu Flamini in leaving Arsenal this summer with the midfielder, according to sources, privately questioning the club's ambitions and spending power.
The Belarusian, who is wanted by Internazionale, has just turned 27 and, with two years left on his contract at the Emirates, is also believed to be concerned about Arsène Wenger's policy of only offering 12-month contracts to players aged 30 and over. Hleb has also let it be known that the offer from Inter far exceeds his wages at Arsenal.
His apparent desire to leave is even more of an irritant to Wenger than Flamini's departure. Hleb's representatives have angered Arsenal by indicating that they may be willing to use Article 17 of the Fifa regulations which, in brief, would allow him to buy out the final years of his contract. Such a move is usually nothing more than a threat – indeed it is one that William Gallas used to leave Chelsea for Arsenal – but, in theory, Hleb could force the issue.
Hleb arrived at Arsenal for £11.2m from Stuttgart in July 2005 and such has been Wenger's annoyance at Inter's public interest that he has threatened to report the Italian club to Fifa although such a complaint is unlikely to have any effect. Milan last night announced they had signed Flamini after the 24-year-old arrived in Italy on Sunday evening, following Arsenal's match against Everton, to have dinner with the club's vice-president Adriano Galliani.
The French midfielder spent yesterday at Milan's training ground, and passed his medical at a nearby clinic. He has agreed a four-year deal and as he has signed on a "free contract" is expected to be paid at least £3.1m a year. The Independent revealed last week that Milan had won the race to sign Flamini, beating off competition from Juventus, and despite reports of late interest from Barcelona the player had made up his mind. Flamini's arrival in Milan will eventually lead to the departure of Gennaro Gattuso although the Italian World Cup winner is expected to stay at San Siro for one more season.
Up until this season Flamini was possibly the lowest paid member of the first-team squad and felt that he was not given sufficient opportunities after arriving from Marseilles.
The agent of the Lille midfielder Jean Makoun has claimed that Arsenal are considering signing the 24-year-old as Flamini's replacement. Makoun has impressed in the Champions League, particularly against Manchester United, and has also been linked with Tottenham.
