Toral deal legal, claims Wenger

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger insists there has been nothing wrong in signing youngster Jon Toral from Barcelona.

Barca president Sandro Rosell described the Gunners’ approach for the 16-year-old prodigy as “a little immoral”, with Toral set to follow in the footsteps of Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas.

Reports in Spain have suggested Arsenal paid almost £300,000 for the player, who was free to sign with any professional club.

Despite Rosell’s protests against the move, Wenger claimed their moves for players had been no different to the ones made for the likes of Fran Merida and Ignasi Miguel in the past.

“You forget that this boy is English. He has an English passport, his mother is from England and hopefully he will join us in the summer,” Wenger said.

“We have players who leave us for other professional clubs in England.

“We have done what just is legal.

“I love Barcelona, I love Catalonia — I have nothing against them, but when a player who is half English and Spanish wants to join us, why should we turn him down if it’s all legal?

“If we have done something illegal, I will say ‘sorry, my boy, we cannot do it’.

“Plenty of players leave us under exactly the same rule.”

Regarding Rosell’s comments, Wenger preferred to avoid a confrontation.

“I do not want to go further on that front because it is very difficult,” he added.

“If you go in the academy of Barcelona and you look where all the players come from, come back to me and we can talk about it.”