Dinamo Moscow boss reveals why he rejected Arsenal offer

Aleksandr Kokorin had his move to Arsenal turned down by Dinamo Moscow

DINAMO MOSCOW manager Andrey Kobelev has revealed the club turned down Arsenal's offer for Aleksandr Kokorin over the summer.

 

The 24-year-old Russia international was linked with the Gunners in the last transfer window, with reports suggesting a deal was close to being done.

Kokorin himself admitted a transfer could have been completed, had Arsene Wenger tabled a permanent deal rather than a loan move.

 

And Moscow boss Kobelev has confirmed this, suggesting Arsenal disrespected the quality of the striker by only offering him a temporary deal.

"I was among those who vetoed this deal," he told Sovetsky Sport.

 

"We think that a loan move to Arsenal is a wrong option for Kokorin. He deserves better. Everyone is laughing, but he has a great potential, and the best coaches in the world see it.

"The point is that if a club pays good money for you, you are given time for adaptation. If a club invests a small sum, he can be benched after a couple of games and returned to his mother club.

 

"For example, if Gareth Bale was loaned to Real Madrid he wouldn't have become the Bale he is now, because it took him time to fit into the system. 

"Kokorin deserves to play at a decent club, and he has to move there as a fully developed player who can deliver results."