Sorry Arsenal fans, your summer transfer kitty has not been topped up after all. A couple of months ago it became clear that because of a clause in his contract, if Thomas Vermaelen won the Champions League while he was at the club, Barca would owe Arsenal the best part of £3 million.
Even Arsene Wenger couldn't help but smile when asked about the clause. The Belgian may have been a highly thought of defender a few years ago but since then injury problems have well and truly got the better of him and Arsenal would have been delighted to ship him out last summer.
Given that Vermaelen has played one game since, it would have been a bit of a kick in the teeth for Barcelona to have to go and give Arsenal an added £3 million just because they went and won the Champions League.
However, it now transpires that they don't. It seems Vermaelen would have had to actually appear in the competition for the clause to come into effect. Obviously enough that didn't happen so, for the moment at least, that's £3 million of the £15 million deal saved.
Not exactly a bargain though no matter how you look at it.
[Evening Standard]
