Gonzalo Higuain joined Real Madrid in 2007 from River Plate. The Argentine had a good start to his Real Madrid career before being overshadowed by current Real Madrid star Karim Benzema. He now plays for MLS side Inter Miami.
Higuain played 6 years for Real Madrid and scored 107 goals in 190 appearances. He joined Serie A club Napoli in 2013. However, before joining Napoli, he had a chance to join Premier League side Arsenal. But they deemed him to be out of their budget and rejected the chance to sign him.
Gonzalo Higuain talks about his possible Arsenal move before joining Napoli
He said to TyC Sports, via Marca: “Before I went to Napoli there was [a chance to sign for Arsenal]. We had already spoken but they didn’t buy me, they buy Ozil for 80 million or something like that.”
“They told me: ‘We don’t have a lot of money to spend. You’re expensive’. From there I went to Napoli. Two days later I see Ozil [signs] for 80 million euros.”
Gonzalo Higuain further talked about his former club Real Madrid. He said: “They’re the biggest club in history. They have 14 Champions League titles. I think it’s the summit for a player.”
“To arrive at 19 [years old] and play [there] until I was 26… I was able to touch the sky with my hands and well, I don’t think there is more than Madrid.”
“In my first year I scored 27 goals and Cris [Cristiano Ronaldo] 26. I go on holiday and I see that they sign [Karim] Benzema and Kaka.”
“I call the club and say: ‘I score 27 goals and you bring me Benzema and Kaka. Listen to me, I have to come back. What do I have to do?’.”
“But that’s what Madrid is all about. They bring in players constantly and you have to be competing. That’s what makes them the best team in history. You always have to compete with the best.”
Higuain also revealed he had a good relationship with Benzema, despite competing for the same striker position. He said: “I’ve known Karim since I was 19. We didn’t just get on well, we were competing for the same position, but we always had a good relationship.”
“It doesn’t surprise me that today he is the best player in the world.”
Read: Gonzalo Higuain set to retire from football in December 2022
