Arsenal fans will recall that earlier this summer, their club was heavily linked to QPR keeper, Julio Cesar.
At the time, it looked like a match made in heaven. The former Inter Milan star stuck out like a sore thumb at Loftus Road, where his level of class and craft is in short supply.
Having one of the world’s best goalkeepers playing for one of the worst, most disjointed teams in Premier League history put QPR in a very difficult situation.
Following the R’s inevitable downfall, they would be left with a number of expensive players who simply weren’t willing to ‘slum it’ in the Championship.
Julio Cesar is one of those men. He should be playing his football with the best sides in Europe, not battling it out with Doncaster Rovers.
Of all the signings QPR made last summer, Cesar is perhaps the man whose stock has fallen the least. He was fairly mistake free, worked hard and concentrated well. The problem seemed to lie with the defenders in front of him and the whole team’s unwillingness to commit to their defensive duties.
Whilst Arsenal have their own defensive issues, you get the feeling that Cesar would fare better at the Emirates. His safe hands may even help the likes of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny to step their games up.
Chances of an Arsenal deal for Cesar seemed to dwindle as Napoli (the same club who recently snapped up Arsenal target Gonzalo Higuain) declared their interest in the experienced Brazilian keeper. As luck may have it, however, Napoli weren’t able to get their man and have chosen to target Pepe Reina instead.
Cesar’s agent, Josias Cardoso admitted that the Gunners were still in the running for his client: “Arsenal remain a concrete option. In Italy recently I have only spoken to Napoli. President Aurelio De Laurentiis wanted him but didn’t want to pay Julio’s current wages.” (Source: The Daily Star)
The door is well and truly open for Arsenal. Julio Cesar won’t want to remain at QPR next season. I’m sure he’ll be desperate to agree terms with a big club like the Gunners.
QPR must also be keen to get him off their wage bill. Arsenal should use these factors to their advantage to try and engineer a fair deal for Cesar. Signing an experienced keeper and building from the back would certainly be a good start to the Gunner’s summer spending.
What’s your take? Should Arsenal re-ignite their interest in Julio Cesar?
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