Nicolas Pepe, a former Arsenal winger, has spoken out about the pressure placed on players who are signed for substantial transfer fees, asserting that the players themselves are not to blame for the high sums involved. He made these comments while defending several high-profile signings who have struggled to meet expectations, such as Manchester United’s Antony and Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk.
Pepe’s own experience at Arsenal serves as a poignant example. After joining the club in 2019 for a reported £72 million, he struggled to justify the hefty price tag. Reflecting on his and others’ situations, Pepe shared his thoughts with BBC Sport, saying, “If Arsenal bought me for £20 million, maybe it’d be different. It’s not the player’s fault. They don’t ask for £100 million or £90 million. But that’s how it is in the football world and it’s something that people can’t understand.”
Nicolas Pepe emphasized that the players are often unfairly judged based on their transfer fees rather than their actual performances. “There are also players like Mudryk and Antony who don’t perform at their best all the time, and yet they’re not bad players,” he added, highlighting that inconsistency does not equate to a lack of talent.
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
During his time at Arsenal, Nicolas Pepe made 112 appearances across all competitions, scoring 27 goals and providing 21 assists. Despite these contributions, his tenure is frequently labeled as a disappointment due to the expectations set by his transfer fee.
