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Federico Valverde 'shook hands on a move to Arsenal for just £2.7m in 2014' when he was still at Uruguayan side Penarol 'and even trained with the first team at London Colney' - before Real Madrid swooped for the midfielder

Arsenal had reportedly reached a 'verbal agreement' with representatives with Real Madrid star Federico Valverde before he joined the LaLiga giants.

The 24-year-old is a star player at the Bernabeu under manager Carlo Ancelotti, having won two LaLiga titles and the Champions League since he joined from Uruguayan side Penarol in 2016.

However, things could have been very different as former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger almost signed the midfielder before he joined Madrid, according to AS.

Arsenal were reportedly close to signing Federico Valverde before he joined Real Madrid
Valverde was recommended to former manager Arsene Wenger (pictured) byu00a0Francis Cagigao

Valverde was recommended to former manager Arsene Wenger (pictured) by Francis Cagigao

The report has suggested that the club had reached a verbal agreement with Valverde after he had been scouted by Francis Cagigao, who had recommended the player to Wenger.