Wenger wants clubs to show respect in transfer market

ARSENE WENGER has no intention of going public and “destabilising” players like Real Madrid have done with Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo as he continues his search for fresh faces to add to the Arsenal squad.

The Gunners are in Austria for their pre-season training camp and will play the first of three overseas friendlies, just over the border against Hungarian side Szombathelyi Haladas, tonight.

The squad will return home for the Emirates Cup on August 2-3 when Real Madrid will be one of the teams coming to north London.

By then, Wenger could well have landed the “experienced” man he has targeted to bolster a squad which has lost Alexander Hleb, Mathieu Flamini and veteran Brazilian Gilberto.

One target is said to be Aston Villa’s unsettled captain Gareth Barry, although at £18million (€22.5m) his price tag may well prove too high, while Miguel Veloso of Sporting Lisbon is another reported to be on Wenger’s radar.

However, the Arsenal manager will, as always, conduct his negotiations in private and feels all top sides should lead by example.

“If you don’t show respect to other clubs I think that football is moving in the wrong way,” Wenger said.

“You cannot come out like president Ramon Calderon has done at Real Madrid with Manchester United and tell them you cannot stop a player from leaving. You can destabilise any player in the world – that is irresponsible.”

Wenger added: “These are big clubs that should be setting an example to others.

“I believe that football now is at the stage where it has become a world sport and the big clubs should have values and vision and set an example.’’