Arteta witnessed firsthand Diaz’s quality in forward areas, which prompted Real Madrid to sign him in 2019. However, he struggled to break into the starting lineup and is now in the third year of his loan to AC Milan, despite the fact that the Serie A club has an option to sign him permanently.
Arsenal would most likely have to negotiate directly with Real Madrid to sign the talented 23-year-old, but Corriere dello Sport claims that Arteta’s club is interested in bringing Diaz to the Emirates and helping him live up to the ‘next Messi’ label.
When Diaz was coming up through the Manchester City academy, his teammate Edward Francis was so impressed that he compared Diaz to the legendary Argentine. “He is strong with both his left and right foot, and he is definitely a big player for us,” Francis told GOAL in 2017.
If Diaz joins Arsenal, he would not be the only player at the club who has been compared to Messi since their debut. Martin Odegaard was one of the most hyped teenagers in football and had the same expectations as Diaz, but he struggled in Madrid as well.
Arteta was able to transform the Norwegian into one of the most influential players in the Premier League, and Diaz will be hoping for a similar trajectory under the Spanish manager, despite the competition for places.
Diaz impressed in Milan’s recent Champions League match against Tottenham, possibly putting himself in the good graces of his future employers’ supporters.
