Jack Wilshere is the latest Arsenal player being linked with a FC Barcelona transfer.
The Daily Telegraph reports that Dani Alves wants FC Barcelona to sign Arsenal star Jack Wilshere.
“He is a great player who we have met playing against Arsenal and without doubt he can reach the height of the players we have here at Barcelona like Xavi and Iniesta,” said Alves.
“He has a lot of quality and a great personality.
“If I was given the chance to choose, he is a player that I would sign for Barcelona.”
Arsenal have had to grow accustomed to FC Barcelona stars talking about how well Gunners stars would fit into their side, with the bi-annual courtship of Cesc Fabregas the prime example.
In the last few years, Barcelona have signed Marc Overmars, Emmanuel Petit, Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, Thierry Henry, Alexander Hleb, Cesc Fabregas and Alex Song.
With Wilshere though, it seems different.
The diminutive midfielder has played a starring role every time he has come up against Alves, whether in matches for Arsenal against Barcelona or England against Brazil, and it is easy to see why Alves would like to play alongside him instead of face him.
Arsene Wenger has long extolled the virtues of having a British core at Arsenal, and has been quite candid in saying that he hopes they will be more loyal to a team in their home country than those who have departed.
It was interesting to see Alves compare Wilshere to the likes of Xavi Hernandez or Andres Iniesta, for the clear implication was that it was with a view to him replacing either in the Catalan side.
Xavi of course signed a new contract to stay at Camp Nou until 2016, but the Spain international is already 33, and Barca will have to think long term.
Already the heartbeat of both Arsenal and England at age 21, Wilshere doubtless possesses the quality to play for Barcelona.
He signed a new long term contract this season, and it would take a colossal bid to bring him to Camp Nou.
There is also one other problem for the Spanish giants this time.
Unlike Cesc Fabregas, Jack Wilshere does not possess Barcelona DNA.
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