Arsenal were on the last day of the transfer window in the winter of 2013 said to be close to signing former Chelsea star Demba Ba who was then still with the Blues. The reports went as far as claiming the deal is done but at the last minute, Jose Mourinho moved the Senegalese’s move to the Emirates. Mourinho was said not to be ready to strengthen a direct rival despite the fact that Ba was a first team regular as Torres, Drogba and Samuel Eto’o were ahead of him in the pecking order.
The player himself has now confirmed he was very close to joining Arsenal and was as a matter of fact on his way to London from France where he was on holiday to have a medical with Arsenal before Jose Mourinho stopped the move. This has not gone down well with Demba Ba, who almost three years after have stated how unhappy he is with the Portuguese technician.
“I think back to the day when Jose Mourinho blocked my Chelsea loan to Arsenal,” he said.
“It was the time of his return to the club, and I think it would have been a very good move. It happened on the last day of the transfer window.
“I was in Paris, at rest, and Arsenal representatives called me to tell me it was going to happen. I then came back to London for the medical.
“Upon arriving, I was left surprised that Mr Mourinho had blocked my move to Arsenal. Mesut Ozil arrived, and to strengthen a competitor like Arsenal was very complicated if it worked.”
Arsenal would probably have gone on to win the league that year had they managed to get Demba Ba. The Gunners missed out, suffered injuries to Ramsey, Giroud and other key players and lost the league to Manchester City despite leading the table for the most of the 8 months period.
However, hopefully Wenger himself can learn from the way Mourinho handled the transfer. Jose Mourinho been a technical genius knows by loaning Demba Ba to Arsenal, he will be weakening his own Chelsea side while at the same time making a rival much more stronger.
This is unlike Wenger who let Manchester United sign Robin Van Persie thereby making Arsenal weaker and winning the league for Manchester United. The red devils actually had a free ride to the league that year.
