Arsenal Transfer News: David Luiz to sign renewal deal with Arsenal and Benfica can’t afford him claims Portuguese club President.
David Luiz is preparing to secure his future at Arsenal claims Benfica’s President Luis Filipe Vieira, who says his club cannot afford to re-sign the Brazilian ace at the moment.
Luiz joined Arsenal last summer from Chelsea on a reported fee of £8 million on a year-long contract with an option of extending it to another year following.
The 33-year-old was a regular starter for the Gunners this season, even though he had a fine share of poor games. Meanwhile Luiz openly admitted before that he would be interested in heading back to Benfica.
However, his agent Kia Joorabchian has insisted that the centre-back remains “happy” at Emirates Stadium and that he is likely to stay in north London for another season.
Vieira shares the same opinion as Joorabchian, having been in regular contact with the Arsenal man over his future, and although he would love to see the defender retrace his steps at some point, he admits that Benfica cannot afford his wages.
“I spoke to him again yesterday. We have a father-to-son relationship,” the Benfica president told Record. “He was in the car with his agent, preparing to renew his contract with Arsenal.
“He is someone who loves Benfica, but there is something else he is: he is a great professional and has to earn money. What he earns is unthinkable for Benfica to pay. If David Luiz comes to a day when he says ‘I want to leave here’, if he is 35 years old, in perfect condition, we will take David Luiz of course.
“If he came, it would have to be for a million, but as a father, I would say ‘No, David, you’re not coming, don’t be crazy. You have to make money!’
“When the football is over, nobody goes after him. If he came today, he would have to come under these conditions, otherwise, he could not come.”
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