Martin Odergaard will come across some known faces this Tuesday on the occasion of the first round of the Champions League quarter -finals between Arsenal and Real Madrid. The Norwegian playing master has indeed evolved for two seasons for the Merengue before chaining the loans and then signing with the Gunners. Mesut Ozil, Emmanuel Adebayor, Dani Ceballos, Davor Suker, Lassana Diarra or Jose Antonio Reyes: the players to have wore the jersey of the two teams were numerous.
However, the most memorable transfer between the two teams was undoubtedly that of Nicolas Anelka. His departure from the Gunners gave rise to a real soap opera which waved the Mercato section for long months. Two years after turning their back on PSG, his training club, to get involved with Arsenal for only 5 million francs, less than a million euros, the native of Trappes puts London leaders on his knees.
After two years with the Gunners, Nicolas Anelka entered the summer of 1999 with Real Madrid for 220 million francs.
Author of a second XXL season with notably 17 league goals and became one of Highbury's idols, Nicolas Anelka nevertheless wants to leave at all costs. In particular, the fault of the English tabloids, far too hard with him to his taste. His decision is made and nothing can make him change his mind even if his two older brothers, Claude and Didier, try to convince him to stay.
Nicolas Anelka said yes to Lazio but …
“I replaced Ian Wright. I thought the public was happy for me, but in fact, I noticed by reading the newspapers and watching the TV that I was criticized, when I hadn't done anything to deserve this. I then said to myself, when you are all behind me, so I would go. And that's what I did “He told News of the World in 2008.
The situation stirs up lusts. In January, several clubs tried to attract him, including Marseille, who proposed 100 million francs, and Real Madrid, ready to pay 135 million francs. But in the summer, the young prodigy of 20 years seems to promise in Serie A, where Lazio Rome has made it a priority. Twice, the Roman club seems to have reached an agreement with Arsenal.
But the London club is always more greedy, demanding 260 million francs when Lazio offers 200. The situation becomes more and more tense and Nicolas Anelka dries training, his agent Marc Roger claiming depression.
Marc Roger will finally be able to fold Arsenal and divert Nicolas Anelka de la Lazio during an appointment on the Yacht of David Deun, the Boss of the Gunners, in Saint-Tropez. In particular by hiding the identity of the club interested. But the president of Real Madrid agrees to pay 220 million francs, which is enough for the happiness of the Londoners. And too bad for Lazio, who saw the French player escape him despite a good and due form. “We have taken it off”,
The Roman president will regret.
