Sports / Soccer
Wenger backs Emmanuel Adebayor's move to Real Madrid
21 Feb 2011 at 21:18hrs | Views
Arsene Wenger has backed Emmanuel Adebayor's decision to seek pastures new at Real Madrid after being isolated at Manchester City, and believes the move will benefit the striker and the Spanish giants.
The Togo target man was once a fan favourite at the Emirates before he courted moves abroad and eventually made the switch from Arsenal to the north-west of England in 2009, but found himself pushed out of the picture at Eastlands following the arrivals of Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko.
The 26-year-old completed a late January loan move to Madrid with the option to sign permanently in the summer if he is deemed a success by the Spanish club, and former boss Wenger feels he has made the right decision and will fit in well at Real.
"Adebayor didn't play anymore, he is a talented player and it's a waste for him not to play," he told Arsenal's official website.
"It is a good decision from Adebayor and a good decision from Real Madrid, in my opinion.
"Adebayor needs to gain confidence again and play at his best because he was going nowhere at Manchester City. Both can be winners."
The Spanish club had long been in the market for a striker after injury sidelined Gonzalo Higuain, leaving Mourinho with only Karim Benzema as a forward option, causing much public consternation from the Portuguese boss.
For Wenger, Adebayor ticks all the boxes to be a useful tool in the Real Madrid squad.
He added: "They need somebody with presence, who is good in the air, who can push over the defenders.
"The characteristics of Adebayor are exactly what Real Madrid need."
The French boss also defended his former player, whose public flirting with other clubs during his time at Arsenal led many supporters and columnists to doubt his professionalism, but Wenger maintains that the striker is a likable individual and his failure in Manchester cannot be attributed to any attitude problem.
He continued: "He is a nice guy. When a player doesn't do well somewhere, his character is questioned straight away.
"Overall, he is not a difficult guy. We had no problem with Adebayor on a daily basis.
"He was likeable, he did his job well."
The Togo target man was once a fan favourite at the Emirates before he courted moves abroad and eventually made the switch from Arsenal to the north-west of England in 2009, but found himself pushed out of the picture at Eastlands following the arrivals of Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko.
The 26-year-old completed a late January loan move to Madrid with the option to sign permanently in the summer if he is deemed a success by the Spanish club, and former boss Wenger feels he has made the right decision and will fit in well at Real.
"Adebayor didn't play anymore, he is a talented player and it's a waste for him not to play," he told Arsenal's official website.
"It is a good decision from Adebayor and a good decision from Real Madrid, in my opinion.
"Adebayor needs to gain confidence again and play at his best because he was going nowhere at Manchester City. Both can be winners."
The Spanish club had long been in the market for a striker after injury sidelined Gonzalo Higuain, leaving Mourinho with only Karim Benzema as a forward option, causing much public consternation from the Portuguese boss.
He added: "They need somebody with presence, who is good in the air, who can push over the defenders.
"The characteristics of Adebayor are exactly what Real Madrid need."
The French boss also defended his former player, whose public flirting with other clubs during his time at Arsenal led many supporters and columnists to doubt his professionalism, but Wenger maintains that the striker is a likable individual and his failure in Manchester cannot be attributed to any attitude problem.
He continued: "He is a nice guy. When a player doesn't do well somewhere, his character is questioned straight away.
"Overall, he is not a difficult guy. We had no problem with Adebayor on a daily basis.
"He was likeable, he did his job well."
Source - Byo24NEWS
