Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta made use of his close relationship with Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso before making a decision on one summer transfer at the Emirates
Mikel Arteta has revealed he took advice from Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso before completing one of Arsenal's summer transfers. The Spaniard got in touch with his long-time friend before adding Piero Hincapie late in the window.
Arsenal signed Hincapie on an initial loan deal from Bayer Leverkusen. The agreement includes an option to buy the Ecuador international for £45million, as he arrived with Jakub Kiwior heading out the exit door.
While Hincapie will offer support for Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba initially, the Ecuador international could yet be a long-term investment for the Gunners. It's little wonder Arteta wanted insight into the 23-year-old.
Few will know the defender as well as Alonso, with 121 of his 197 club appearances coming under the former Liverpool midfielder. Alonso clearly provided a good recommendation.
“Yes, for sure, I had to," said Arteta on contacting the ex-Leverkusen manager. "I mean, someone like him that I know so well, trust him and had him for a few years.
"It's very, very valuable information to have. He was super complimentary of him for many different reasons and it was good to confirm what I saw.
“And some of the things that you obviously learn from that conversation that you probably weren't very aware of.”
It has not been a positive start for Hincapie, however. The versatile defender has played just a single minute for the club and suffered from a groin injury.
Hincapie is back in training ahead of Fulham however. Arteta is excited by his return.
"He will be training today again with us,” the Arsenal boss said. “If everything is right, he will be available as well. He is a player that is going to help us a lot, he is going to bring something different to the team - and we need to get him going.
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“What you're going to see is his aggression, his determination. He's a player who goes full gas to every single action, especially in defending.
“And with the ball, whether he plays as a left centre-back or a full-back, a player who is very clean on the ball.
“Again, someone who really wants to penetrate, whether it's with the ball, his positioning, and it will bring a different character and emotion to the team.”