In scenes reminiscent of Jose Antonio Reyes’ departure from the club, Alexander Hleb’s latest quotes are almost laughable.
The 27-year-old Belorussian has had an superb season in the Premier League this year and probably his best since he came to the club.
Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster yesterday announced his intent on buying Arsenal’s no. 13, with Hleb’s rumoured price tag at £10 million.
Hleb gave an interview to respected German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine in which he gave his views on the Premier League, and why, in his opinion it’s the best league in the world.
“I have learned in England that there is still so much to improve,” said Hleb
“I have always dreamed of playing in a great club. Now I have learned that it is not so easy and a lot of work.
“The first year was a killer. I felt very lonely.
“It was clear that The Premier League would be a challenge – but with this pace, I have not expected this.
“The Bundesliga is still a good league, but a season in England feels like two in Germany.
“I will tell you an example: When I was here at the beginning, everything went chop chop, so fast. The pace was madness, even in training.
“I look for the ball in front of me, then where I can play it – when I looked down again the ball was gone.
“The English league is the best league in the world.”
Source: Setanta Sports
“I felt very lonely”. A homesick 27-year-old eh? Who’d of thought it. On a serious note, a move to Real Madrid looks very likely for Hleb. I doubt he’ll get into their starting XI, let alone their bench.
Some news coming on Gilles Grimandi a little later..
Tags: arsenal, hleb, Real Madrid
May 27, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Nice article again mate. Like you was saying in your other article, piss off hleb, hello nasri.
May 27, 2008 at 2:56 pm
He can’t use the “Webster clause”, 15 days have passed since the end of the season and a request to buy out your contract has to be submitted within that time period…unless of course this has been done and the fans have not been told. I doubt that though because I reckon his agent would have announced it.
May 27, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Do you have a link to that info mate? Cheers
May 27, 2008 at 2:58 pm
hleb is a dikhead thinking tht its gna b easy at real madrid
May 27, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Seeing as Real Madrid want him why not offer Hleb and cash in exchange for Robinho
May 27, 2008 at 3:11 pm
not sure he’s not going to buy out his contract.
May 27, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Possibly, but wouldn’t Robinho be another repeat of Reyes? Complaining about the weather etc?
May 27, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Its quoted Setanta Sports, i checked it out, they just disabled it some how. Its in Newsnow, you can go take a look, maybe you’ll get in.
May 27, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Here’s the link:
http://sport.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/05/27/Premier-League-Hleb-on-Premier-League/
May 27, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Cheers Duck, I put the link at the bottom.
May 27, 2008 at 3:17 pm
I wonder what kind of ice cream Madrid is famous for? *shrugs* anyway…Robinho? No thanks! The thing about Nasri I like is that when I watch him live on tv he looks like a fighter and does not like to go down,even when he’s down he forces his way back up and that says a lot about his character
May 27, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Let Real have him and get Diarra in exchange! Wenger is also keen on one of thier youth players & De La Red too. We can use Hleb to get players from Madrid, Barcelona and Inter in straight swap deals
May 27, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Hleb could learn something from Dudu. Eddie had his leg savagely broken last season but he’s not whinging about how tough the Prem is. And remember that last season was Eddie’s first at Arsenal and his first in the Prem. Hleb, regardless of how good you are, I want you to fuck off out of our team just as fast as i want Dudu to return. Your not fit to where our shirt, and wearing the white of real madrid wont make you a better player. But the lower quality of the spanish league mite do. Dudu get well soon mate.
May 27, 2008 at 3:18 pm
sounds good to me!
May 27, 2008 at 3:18 pm
joe, hleb was 24 when he got here. anyways i really think we should just grant him his wish and let him leave for another club coz it would be pointless having an unhappy player in the squad which would ruin team morale in general. all the best to him and his new club though.
May 27, 2008 at 3:21 pm
No manzi, i was saying sounds good to me about what Ash said but that gunner#1 posted something.
May 27, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Stick him in the Reserves..?
May 27, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Can we please stop this savage assault of Hleb, he was one of our best players last season. Okay, he is moaning about the premier league but footballers are so stupid and get completely manipulated by their agents that Hleb is acting as his agents puppet. If he does want to go then fair enough, but lets not forget how well he played last season. Also, just reading the reliable ANR, Nasri could be an official Arsenal player tomorrow, when he flies to London to meet with Wenger. Finally, Eduardo has said that providing everything goes well with his come back, there is a chance he may be playing again in late September (reserves mind you) but this is very encouraging.
May 27, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Cheers Ben.
Wenger had a meeting with some PSG officials last night btw, something i’ll talk about later.
May 27, 2008 at 3:26 pm
we will forget him with in the first mach of the next season
big up gooners next year is ours !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 27, 2008 at 3:27 pm
“Now I have learned that it is not so easy and a lot of work.”
Above is an extract from an article where Hleb’s whinging about the Prem. Now for a geezer on tens of thousands of pounds a week, he expects his life at work to be easy!! For fuck sake, i dont even earn in a year what he earns a week, but he still whinges that its not so easy and a lot of work. I’m no superhero but i work my arse into the ground and im grateful for what i get. How can he fucking moan. Hes at the greatest footballing club in the world earning millions a year, a team who as it happens plays the kind of football that compliments his game, so lifes even better for him! Bollucks, see ya later mate, take care and enjoy the spanish weather. Its good that its warm in spain, coz life on the bench can get kinda cold!!!
May 27, 2008 at 3:28 pm
btw , im not saying that this blog isnt reliable, you come up with some great peices and are usually true (apart from the Eboue one!) But ANR has the most recent development on teh Nasri story, so i was just passing on the word, not trying to offend your blog.
May 27, 2008 at 3:29 pm
No offense taken feller. I appreciate all the help, constructive criticism I can get from my readers.
Cheers
May 27, 2008 at 3:29 pm
i will miss his brilliant English though-)))
May 27, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Link for the ANR site then??
May 27, 2008 at 3:31 pm
ANR
May 27, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Don’t know how to post links but the website is: http://www.arsenalnewsreview.co.uk
May 27, 2008 at 3:33 pm
cheers chris, a valuable favorite
May 27, 2008 at 3:34 pm
is it true that Nasri will come to london tmorrow
May 27, 2008 at 3:35 pm
That’s what Myles Palmer says on ANR, his articles are usually genuine
May 27, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Remember, Myles Palmer was the guy who said Henry was staying.
May 27, 2008 at 3:37 pm
True, that was a shocker!
May 27, 2008 at 3:37 pm
I actually like Myles Palmer though, of course I don’t agree with everything he writes but I generally I feel he gets it right. Also he has the balls to say what he thinks and often when people disagree he posts their opinions on his own website.. He receives far too much criticism and stick as far as I’m concerned.
May 27, 2008 at 3:38 pm
how dose any of the news pepers didn’t got his picture when he was in london last time ?
May 27, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Not sure, the British press are pretty sneaky guys/girls, i’m surprised theres no pics of him.
May 27, 2008 at 3:40 pm
the quote about the speed of the game is laughable.
I mean, if the ball is at your feet and some nicks it off you, what is wrong with that.
Is there a different rule in Germany or Spain, that if the ball is at your feet, the opposition cant take it off you?
Let him go, but lets get the most we can for him.
I agree with the Robinho suggestion, he is a great player, who scores goals. Whilst he might be slight he does not go to ground as some would assume, and I am pretty sure he would walk into our first team.
May 27, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Agreed Chris, he manages to show case different opinions and comes up with some good articles using his opinions
May 27, 2008 at 3:43 pm
so U still trust ANR! it says he will come tommorow
May 27, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Cloth-head Hleb … I’m sick of all this. Sling your hook, mate and find somewhere that plays s-l-o-w tackle-free footie. Hey, there’s an opening at Arsenal Ladies… Of course, there’s nowhere slower or more tackle-free than a bench. Seriously, this drawn-out saga IS causing instability so that others think they can cherry-pick. Sell him and bring it to an end. But I won’t forget him before the season starts – I’ve forgotten him already. Alex who?
May 27, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Abnet, he could have flown in through a private jet. You know how Arsenal works, quiet. Btw, its not even Wednesday yet.
May 27, 2008 at 3:45 pm
yep, but don’t hold me to that 100%!
May 27, 2008 at 3:46 pm
I said he’d come this week, we were the first to tell you that Wenger said he’d come before the Euros, hopefully he goes by his word.
May 27, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Its surprising how Hleb can stay with the club for a few seasons before finding out the league and London is not the right place.
May 27, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Okay lets be serious, Nasri is pretty much a done deal, you dont get Wenger shouting about his siginings untill their 100% done. Hleb is gone. Theres a lot of noise about Ben Arfa around, but one guy not linked with anyone and could be useful is Issiar Dia. I’ve seen him play a few times this season, he’s strong, quick and can play in more than one position. He is French, and comes from a Senegalease background, just what Wenger likes! He would be far cheaper than Ben Arfa and would be perfectely suited to the Premier League, although he isnt a great goalscorer.
May 27, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Dia’s class, was going to do an article about him, but i’m sure i’ll get abusive comments saying that i’m making up rumours.. :rollseyes:
May 27, 2008 at 3:55 pm
i wont give a toss if he goes. 11 GOALS IN 3 SEASONS!.
FUCK OFF. HELLO NASRI
May 27, 2008 at 3:56 pm
haha
May 27, 2008 at 3:58 pm
lol
May 27, 2008 at 3:58 pm
the prem is no so mush tichnical like italian or spanish league is mush more phsical,fast and franentic,you look at the wingers that has successful they are very quick and they very direct,evon if you are not very technical gifted the players are svery strong and work extremly hard they will do very well.
hleb is unlimited technical ability however he very little speed and has very limited in versitlity and cant play direct. the bottom line is laked the heart rolls is sleeves up to hard work for the team he just in for the money but have disagree with chris why pay his wages in reserves when we can get at least 10 million for him.
May 27, 2008 at 4:01 pm
That’s exactly what annoys me about the English game to much effort on speed and strength. In the past i’ve been told i cant get in to teams because im too small! Withiout any consideration to actual footballing ability, this is why i will be sad to see players like Hleb go, as they are so good on the ball
May 27, 2008 at 4:02 pm
‘d laugh if you actually were 3 foot though
May 27, 2008 at 4:03 pm
ya not quite lol
May 27, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Swap Hleb for Drenthe plus cash any day.
May 27, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I’d swap Dia for Hleb plus we get £5-10 Million, that would be a quality deal, although the French League may be too hard for Hleb.
May 27, 2008 at 4:15 pm
anyone know the channel for the France game tonight??
May 27, 2008 at 4:18 pm
don’t worry got it, on Setanta if your wondering
May 27, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Cheers Joe!
May 27, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Why does everybody consider it would be difficult for Hleb to get in the Real team .. Personally I think its a step down. How many English clubs struggled against European counterparts this season ? – not the top 4, they could only lose to each other! So why should joining one of Europes soccer circus’ be a step up?
May 27, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Players have different characters. If he’s not happy, he’s not happy, what’s the problem? Stop spitting bile at Alex Hleb, makes you look like sad bitter little wanker.
May 27, 2008 at 5:02 pm
say the last comment in a oriental old man accent to yourself.
May 27, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Why do we constantly expect contracted footballers to feel the same way as we do about Arsenal. We are fans and most of us would give our right nut and play for free if we had the ability to play for the Arsenal.
These guys do not have that emotional attachment to Arsenal. If anything the ones who have shown loyalty seem to show it more to Wenger than Arsenal because he raised them up like Cesc, Toure or Clichy OR he rescued their career like Viera and Henry.
Good luck to Hleb, he had a great first half to last season and really dazzled us with his skills but he has largely frustrated us with his running into dead ends or poor final passes and pitiful end product. He was over-paid for what he delivered. End of.
May 27, 2008 at 5:44 pm
[...] which is likely to involve a swap deal; the name Ruben de la Red has been mentioned by several commenters on the [...]
May 27, 2008 at 6:27 pm
i hope he goes to real..then they sign ronaldo from man u!!! that would be hilarious. he would play for their b team! hahaha
May 27, 2008 at 6:42 pm
i say 15 days have passed dont let him go except in swap deal for quality big name player……..
May 27, 2008 at 8:01 pm
I am happy for him to leave. Hleb didn’t want to know after Eduardo’s injury. If he starts shooting and scoring goals for his new club I will not be amused!
May 28, 2008 at 4:22 am
What about the meeting with PSG. Whens the article on that. Anything to do with Chantome.
Cheers