Moises Caicedo has opened up about his failed move to Arsenal in 2023 as Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea look set to clash with Mikel Arteta’s Gunners in a battle for first and second place on Sunday.
Moises Caicedo believes fate was at work as he reflects on his failed move to Arsenal in January 2023. The Gunners had a £60m offer for Caicedo rejected by Brighton & Hove Albion.
Arsenal made an offer for the Ecuadorian star, but Brighton quickly rejected the approach. It comes as Mikel Arteta is looking to strengthen his midfield amid concerns over Mohamed Elneny’s fitness. However, Brighton have repeatedly shown that they have no intention of cutting below their asking price, as evidenced by Mark Cucurella and Ben White. Just months after an approach from Arsenal, Caicedo completed a move to Chelsea for £115m.
“Everything happens for a reason,” Caicedo told the Daily Mail as he neared the road to Emirates Stadium.
read more: Chelsea News: Enzo Maresca hands down verdict on Declan Rice leaving him injuredread more: Arsenal injury news: Mikel Arteta releases updates on five players following Victor Goqueres’ request
“I almost made it, but now I’m here and I’m very happy. The timing was good. I waited until Chelsea came to pick me up. People laughed. They told me I had chosen the wrong place, but sometimes you need time to adapt to a big team. I needed that.”
“I want to give everything to this club because they never doubted me. I chose Chelsea because they have ambition. I want to win trophies. I want to win more trophies with this club.”
Liverpool also tried to sign the 24-year-old by signing a £111m deal with Brighton, but the move fell through after Caicedo made it clear he wanted to move to Chelsea.
He adapted quickly to the team and featured prominently in Enzo Maresca’s outfit on numerous occasions this season.
Caicedo is also full of confidence ahead of Sunday’s match against Arsenal at 4.30pm. Arteta’s side are currently six points clear at the top of the Premier League, with many believing they could finally lift the trophy that has eluded them for 21 years.
When asked if Chelsea could bring them back home, the midfielder replied: “Why not? They’re doing really well, but we haven’t played against them yet.”
This comes after Declan Rice recently revealed that he voted for Caicedo in his PFA Team of the Year submission. “I have a lot of respect for Moises Caicedo,” the Arsenal midfielder told CBS Sports.
“I voted him in the PFA Team of the Year last year and I thought he was an outstanding player. There are a lot of comparisons, but we play in different positions.”
Sunday should see an exciting clash between the two central midfielders, and the outcome of the match between Arsenal and Chelsea could be determined by their battle in the engine room.
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