Eusebio Mango Fernandes, the agent of Sporting Lisbon starlet Joelson Fernandes has claimed that Arsenal made a bid to sign him during the summer transfer window.
The teenage winger, who has been linked with a host of top clubs, which include the Gunners has signed an new deal at the Portuguese club, blocking him from making a move.
According to Fernandes’ father, who is his agent, Arsenal made an offer of 20million euros (just over £18million) for the 17-year-old but it was rejected as the youngster penned a new contract with his Portuguese club.
It was gathered that Fernandes was also on the radars of Liverpool, Manchester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Barcelona, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax and RB Leipzig during the summer window. They are reportedly keen on getting the startlet.
Father wants Fernandes to leave Sporting Lisbon through the big door
Speaking on the reason for rejecting the bid and signing a new contract, Eusebio, who claimed that the Gunners bidded the highest, but it was not enough to secure the player’s services said he wants his son to leave the club through the front door and not back.
“It had to be a thoughtful decision, because my wish as a father and agent, on the day that Joelson Fernandes leaves Sporting, is to be friendly and through the big door, but not through the back door.
“It was an extremely difficult and very complicated process, because there were tough moments in the negotiations for Joelson Fernandes to stay at Sporting.
“My wish was always for him to stay at the club, but due to his quality as a footballer, he had calls from several European clubs,” Eusebio Mango Fernandes told Guinea Bissau news outlet O Democrata.
Despite the tempting offers received for his son, Eusebio turned them done knowing that he needed the cash.
While stating that money is not everything in life, Eusebio expressed gratitude to Sporting for the offer they presented.
Who is Joelson Fernandes?
Born in Guinea-Bissau, Fernandes decided to play for Portugal internationally. He is a left-winger with a lot of prospects.
The 17-year-old has grown through the ranks for Portugal from the under 15 to under 21. He recently penned a new deal which will keep in the club till June 2023.
With this new deal, he is expected to make more appearances in the senior team after making his senior debut last season. He has so far played 7 games for Sporting this season with three already coming this season. He is yet to score his senior goal but that looked to be on the cards for him.
If given enough playing time, he could turn out to be another important player for the side.
“Yesterday I realized a boy’s dream, debuting with the Sporting jersey at the Alvalade stadium. Being able to enter even younger than the club’s legends only gives me more encouragement and strength to be better every day. I thank my family and @sportingclubedeportugal to my friends, colleagues and everyone who in a direct or indirect way helped me along this journey,” he wrote after making his senior debut with the club last season on his Instagram page.
