Aaron Ramsey‘s ‘huge wage’ at Juventus was not the only reason Liverpool and Manchester United both rejected the chance to sign him.
It was announced on Monday that Ramsey had signed a pre-contract with Juventus to join them upon the expiration of his Arsenal deal in the summer.
The Welshman thanked Arsenal fans for their support after the news broke, having spent 11 years in north London.
There are conflicting reports over how much he will earn in Turin, with BBC Sport’s David Ornstein stating that he has signed a £400,000-a-week contract. Italian journalist Gabriele Marcotti suggests his wages will be closer to £250,000.
The London Evening Standard say that while such money ‘explains in part’ why neither Liverpool nor United made a concrete move, there were other factors involved.
Both ‘were among a clutch of clubs’ who wanted to sign Ramsey, with Jurgen Klopp ‘an admirer’ of his ‘energy and penetration from midfield’.
But the German ‘opted against adding another option to an area of the team in which he is well stocked’.
United were interested in signing Ramsey last summer, but the sacking of Jose Mourinho contributed to their unwillingness to ‘commit significant funds until a permanent successor is found’.