Shkodran Mustafi transferred from FC Valencia to Arsenal FC this summer. On Saturday, he could make his debut for his new club against Southampton FC (16:00 CEST).
Mustafi would have made his 65th appearance in La Liga against Real Betis this Saturday had he stayed at his former club FC Valencia. However, everything changed this summer for Mustafi. He played the first few matches of the European Championships in France before he was made a substitute. Then, he ended the tournament as one of the eleven players who were on the pitch when the final whistle was blown in the semi-final against France. But this summer wasn’t all about football for Mustafi as the player also got married. Finally, Mustafi transferred from Valencia to Arsenal FC in August.
Back in England: “I have become a man”
The World Cup winner has returned to England, the country where he began playing abroad. In 2009, 17-year old Mustafi moved to Everton FC in Liverpool where he played for two years. Mustafi was named in the Everton squad eleven times but he didn’t feature in any matches. However it was still an important step in Mustafi’s career. “It’s where I became a man,” said the German player.
He also became a better footballer. Although he didn’t play for the first team, he played regularly for the U23s. There he learnt how to be tougher and more robust. Moving to England for the first time certainly wasn’t a mistake for Mustafi in his sporting career. Most importantly he got his first experience of living and playing abroad.
Afterwards, Mustafi moved to Italy to play for second league team U.C. Sampdoria. Whilst he was there he started playing for the German national team and won the World Cup with his country in 2014. That summer, Mustafi moved to Spain to play for FC Valencia.
Wenger: “Challenges await for Mustafi”
And now for the next step, Arsenal FC. There were various reasons behind his decision to move to Arsenal such as the quality of the team, the reputation of the manager and the structure of the club. Mustafi researched his new club well and he had a lot of sources who gave him first hand information. Mesut Özil raved about Arsenal FC during the European Championships in France and told his teammate Mustafi how happy he was to be playing in London. “He told me how happy he was to be playing at Arsenal,” said Mustafi.
After a successful debut season at Valencia, things didn’t go so well for Mustafi during his second year at the club. The club wanted to qualify for the Champions League but instead they ended up trying to avoid relegation and finished in 12th place. This wasn’t enough for a player who had much higher ambitions. And it looked unlikely that things would start to improve. Mustafi was promised that the club was going to invest and build a team able to compete, however, this never happened. So Mustafi put in a transfer request at the club.
An offer came in from Arsenal who certainly had enough money to afford the player. Eventually, the transfer was completed just before the international fixture between Germany and Finland. “He is still young and has a wealth of expertise,” said Arsene Wenger. “He is an intelligent player who is focused and knows what to do with the ball. Challenges await for Mustafi here but he isn’t scared to take them on."
Mustafi could make his debut against Southampton
After the World Cup qualifier against Norway in Oslo, Mustafi returned to Valencia to pack up and say goodbye before moving to England. “I am very happy to be here,” he said when he arrived in England. “It’s the next step in my career. Playing for Arsenal will help me grow as a player.”
Saturday could be Mustafi’s first match for Arsenal. Not against Real Betis, but against Southampton FC. It looks likely that Mustafi will make his debut for Arsenal as Per Mertesacker is currently out due to injury.
created by mmc/ej
###more###
Shkodran Mustafi transferred from FC Valencia to Arsenal FC this summer. On Saturday, he could make his debut for his new club against Southampton FC (16:00 CEST).
Mustafi would have made his 65th appearance in La Liga against Real Betis this Saturday had he stayed at his former club FC Valencia. However, everything changed this summer for Mustafi. He played the first few matches of the European Championships in France before he was made a substitute. Then, he ended the tournament as one of the eleven players who were on the pitch when the final whistle was blown in the semi-final against France. But this summer wasn’t all about football for Mustafi as the player also got married. Finally, Mustafi transferred from Valencia to Arsenal FC in August.
Back in England: “I have become a man”
The World Cup winner has returned to England, the country where he began playing abroad. In 2009, 17-year old Mustafi moved to Everton FC in Liverpool where he played for two years. Mustafi was named in the Everton squad eleven times but he didn’t feature in any matches. However it was still an important step in Mustafi’s career. “It’s where I became a man,” said the German player.
He also became a better footballer. Although he didn’t play for the first team, he played regularly for the U23s. There he learnt how to be tougher and more robust. Moving to England for the first time certainly wasn’t a mistake for Mustafi in his sporting career. Most importantly he got his first experience of living and playing abroad.
Afterwards, Mustafi moved to Italy to play for second league team U.C. Sampdoria. Whilst he was there he started playing for the German national team and won the World Cup with his country in 2014. That summer, Mustafi moved to Spain to play for FC Valencia.
###more###
Wenger: “Challenges await for Mustafi”
And now for the next step, Arsenal FC. There were various reasons behind his decision to move to Arsenal such as the quality of the team, the reputation of the manager and the structure of the club. Mustafi researched his new club well and he had a lot of sources who gave him first hand information. Mesut Özil raved about Arsenal FC during the European Championships in France and told his teammate Mustafi how happy he was to be playing in London. “He told me how happy he was to be playing at Arsenal,” said Mustafi.
After a successful debut season at Valencia, things didn’t go so well for Mustafi during his second year at the club. The club wanted to qualify for the Champions League but instead they ended up trying to avoid relegation and finished in 12th place. This wasn’t enough for a player who had much higher ambitions. And it looked unlikely that things would start to improve. Mustafi was promised that the club was going to invest and build a team able to compete, however, this never happened. So Mustafi put in a transfer request at the club.
An offer came in from Arsenal who certainly had enough money to afford the player. Eventually, the transfer was completed just before the international fixture between Germany and Finland. “He is still young and has a wealth of expertise,” said Arsene Wenger. “He is an intelligent player who is focused and knows what to do with the ball. Challenges await for Mustafi here but he isn’t scared to take them on."
Mustafi could make his debut against Southampton
After the World Cup qualifier against Norway in Oslo, Mustafi returned to Valencia to pack up and say goodbye before moving to England. “I am very happy to be here,” he said when he arrived in England. “It’s the next step in my career. Playing for Arsenal will help me grow as a player.”
Saturday could be Mustafi’s first match for Arsenal. Not against Real Betis, but against Southampton FC. It looks likely that Mustafi will make his debut for Arsenal as Per Mertesacker is currently out due to injury.
###more###
