Brighton CEO Paul Barber has revealed that the club decided against selling Moises Caicedo to Arsenal because they are aiming to achieve their highest-ever finish in the top flight.
The Athletic previously reported that Arsenal were interested in Caicedo, with Brighton declining several bids from the league leaders during the January transfer window for the 21-year-old’s services.
The Ecuador international, who was the subject of a £60million bid from the north London club, subsequently remained at the club with Barber jokingly admitting that the huge bid from Arsenal would have “only got half of the player.”
Speaking to The Beautiful Game Podcast, Barber said: “For us in January selling Moises was not a good move.
“He was one of our best players at the beginning of the season, and we were in a great position in the league, still in the FA Cup and there was a lot of football to play.
“We want to try and achieve our best-ever finish in the Premier League and if we do that there is a chance that we could qualify for European competitions.
“The stakes for us in the second half of the season and Moises was a big part of that.”
Caicedo has become an integral player for Brighton since joining the club from Ecuadorian side Independiente in February 2021 and has made 29 appearances in all competitions for the side this season.
He has helped Brighton currently sit in seventh place in the Premier League, five points off a Champions League spot while they also have an FA Cup semi-final to look forward to.
Barber revealed his delight at the club being able to hold on to the midfielder but admitted that the club will be braced for approaches for him in the future from other clubs.
He added: “He is also a young player, who is still learning his game.
“He is far away from the country that he was born in and therefore we have a responsibility to do the best for the player long-term as well as in the short-term for us.
“We felt that was best served by keeping Moises with us, trying to do the best we can for the rest of this season and what will be in the future will be.
“Moises is a top-class player and such a lovely and he has the potential to be anything that he wants to be, so this won’t be the only transfer window where Moises is a popular attraction for other clubs.
“We are really happy that he has settled back down, and his chance will come in the future to become whatever he wants to be and we are all very confident that will happen for him.”
GO DEEPER
Caicedo is still a Brighton player. He was never leaving – Arsenal just didn’t listen
(Photo: Getty Images)
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Source: News