Wenger hits back at child-trafficking claim

By Gregg Davies
published

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has hit back at Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge's sensational slamming of his transfer policy at the Emirates Stadium. The Frenchman - who has built up a reputation for signing young, talented teenagers and transforming them into world-class players - had his policy compared to "child trafficking" and "kidnapping" by the German giants' bigwig. Rummenigge used Cesc Fabregas' arrival from Barcelona as an example.

The Gunners signed the midfielder as a 16-year-old from the Catalans, with the Spaniard - now 21 - going on to become Arsenal's captain and a Euro 2008 winner with his country.

However, Wenger has responded to Rummenigge's blast with an example of his own, countering that Bayern signed Roque Santa Cruz - currently with Blackburn - from South American side Olimpia Asuncion when he was just 17.

"It is an old speech," said Wenger. "Look at Santa Cruz at Blackburn. Ask him what age he came to Bayern Munich.

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Gregg Davies
Gregg Davies

Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.