'Next Steven Gerrard' snubbed Arsenal and wanted club to make Tottenham transfer

In an alternate universe, Federico Valverde is lining up alongside Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice in his 10th year at Arsenal. Likened to Steven Gerrard by his new Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso, the Uruguayan might have been the missing piece in the Gunners' puzzle.

But despite a trial in north London nearly a decade ago, Valverde opted against signing for Arsenal and instead joined Real Madrid from boyhood club Penarol. He has gone on to become one of the best midfielders in Europe, playing a key role in La Liga and Champions League-winning teams. Alonso is keen to make the 26-year-old an important part of his plans.

The Spaniard said upon his appointment: "I haven't seen many players with his physical performance. He reminds me of someone like Steven Gerrard. He can play anywhere, and I'm very happy to be coaching him. All coaches would like to have a Valverde on the team."

Valverde, who once urged Madrid to sign Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, described his brief spell in England as 'uncomfortable' and insists he never had any desire to join Arsenal.

Writing in the Players' Tribune, Valverde said: "If you Google me, you will see stories about how I almost went to Arsenal when I was 16. That's maybe half-true. It's nothing against Arsenal, but I never wanted to go to England. At that time, the business side of football took over. Certain people were telling me, 'Who wouldn't want to go play for Arsenal? You want to stay here in Uruguay? That's crazy!' What they were really saying under their breath was, 'We can all make a lot of money if you go.'

"You start to understand that your life is not really yours in football. Feeling more like a prisoner than a person, especially as a youngster. Even your nearest become part of this ransom situation. Football is our flight to a better existence, particularly back home in South America, and the circling predators are well aware.

"They put the pressure on you in a 'nice' way. 'Damn, Fede, if you go to Arsenal, you'll have a nice bed and a shower that stays warm for 30, 40 minutes! Who wouldn't want that life?' They sent me on trial to London for a week, and I just wasn't comfortable.

"If you only think of material things, it sounds great. But we are not robots. The reality was that my family couldn't come to London with me. I'd have to live alone, not speaking the language, at 16 years old. For every one kid who succeeds in moving overseas, you don't see the 100 who fail."

While Arsenal sought to improve their midfield earlier this summer, they might have had a world-class player in Valverde had a different decision been made.