Days after Jose Mourinho gave his nod to Arsenal’s proposed loan deal for Nuri Sahin, assistant coach Aitor Karanka has hinted that the Los Blancos would prefer to keep him.
Karanka’s latest comments could deal a heavy blow to the Gunners’ hopes of bringing in the Turkish youngster on loan to the Emirates for the next season. The retired Spain international and currently Mourinho’s assistant at the Santiago Bernabeu has suggested that Sahin might have a future at the Madrid club.
Arsene Wenger has been looking at Sahin as a quality addition to his squad this summer after the 23 year old spent the majority of last season on the bench. Despite Mourinho urging the former Dortmund playmaker to consider a move elsewhere, he has been insisting on staying at the club and fight out for his place. Arsenal were considering to make a loan move for him and this news would come as a bit of a dampener to them. However, Karanka’s latest comments could very well be a ploy to force the Londoners into making a permanent deal rather than take the midfielder on loan.
“In the case of Nuri, like all, what counts is playing,” Karanka said.
“The important thing is that he has no injuries and we are working well. The left-back is a position where we have only Fabio Coentrao and Sahin is doing well.”