The transfer of former Arsenal star, Granit Xhaka, to Hertha Berlin in the summer of 2020 has left many Gunners fans scratching their heads. The Swiss international was sold for a fee of just £17 million, a figure that has been widely criticised as being far too low for a player of Xhaka’s quality.
The 27-year-old had been a key member of the Arsenal squad since joining from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2016, and had become a fan favourite due to his combative style of play. He had also become a regular in the Swiss national team, and was seen as a leader in the Arsenal dressing room.
However, despite his importance to the team, Arsenal’s technical director, Edu, decided to cash in on Xhaka and accept the offer from Hertha Berlin. The move was seen as a major mistake by many Arsenal fans, as the club had already lost out on a potential £30 million transfer fee when they sold Aaron Ramsey to Juventus in 2019.
The sale of Xhaka has been further criticised by former Arsenal star, Robert Pires, who believes that the club should have held out for a higher fee. “It’s very, very cheap,” Pires said in an interview with beIN Sports. “I think Arsenal should have asked for more money.”
Pires’ comments are echoed by many Arsenal fans, who feel that the club should have held out for a higher fee for Xhaka. The sale of the Swiss international has been seen as a major mistake by many, and has left the club with a £17 million loss.
The sale of Xhaka has also raised questions about the transfer policy of Arsenal’s technical director, Edu. The Brazilian has been criticised for his lack of transfer activity since taking over from former manager Unai Emery, and the sale of Xhaka has only added to the criticism.
It remains to be seen if Edu’s transfer policy will pay off in the long run, but for now, Arsenal fans are left to rue the sale of Xhaka for what many believe to be a far too low fee. The Gunners have lost out on a potential £30 million transfer fee, and have been left with a £17 million loss. It’s a situation that has left many Arsenal fans feeling frustrated and angry.
