Monday, 1st October, 2012
Arsenal are continuing to track Udinese defender Mehdi Benatia, according to Calcio Mercato.
The Gunners have kept a close eye on the Moroccan’s progress in Italy and Benatia is continuing to impress in an Udinese shirt.
relatedNewsStory Benatia made 27 appearances in Serie A last season, helping Udinese to continue to punch above their weight and finish third, booking a spot in the Champions League playoff round. Though the Zebrette lost out against Braga, Benatia’s stock has remained high.
The defender was heavily linked with Manchester United earlier this year and did admit that talk involving a switch to Old Trafford was flattering.
And the man who joined Udinese from French side Clermont in 2010, is likely to take a similar view of interest from Arsene Wenger’s Gunners.
Udinese however remain firmly in the driving seat with respect to Benatia’s future, with the defender under contract at the club until 2017.
Benatia has experience of turning out at France’s esteemed Clairefontaine youth academy between 2002 and 2003, before a stint on the south coast at Marseille.
A lack of playing time at the Stade Velodrome led the Moroccan to head to Lorient in 2007, although a serious knee injury deprived him off the minutes on the pitch he craved.
It took another switch, this time to Clermont, for Benatia’s career to really take off.
After establishing himself at the French outfit, Udinese’s scouts recommended snapping up the player and the Italian side duly swooped in.
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