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The Belarus international has been heavily linked with a move away from the Emirates, having earned strong interest from Internazionale, Barcelona and Real Madrid.
And agent Niki Spilevski revealed that the 27-year-old will leave North London this summer, following crunch talks with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.
“I can officially confirm that a short time ago Alexander decided that he will leave Arsenal and join another club,” he said.
“Of course Arsenal and Arsene wanted him to stay but they have accepted the player’s choice.”Change
Hleb moved to Arsenal for ₤11.2 million from Bundesliga outfit VfB Stuttgart in 2005, and has since established himself alongside Cesc Fabregas as one of the team’s key creative outlets.
But the midfielder has grown weary of the hustle-and-bustle of London, and Spilevski confirmed that his client seeks a fresh challenge.
“That is his choice,” he said. “He has understood that the right time has come for him to make a change.
“Alex has spent three good seasons at Arsenal and he wasn’t sure he could maintain the same level that he has been showing if he stayed.
“It’s also true that he felt uncomfortable off the field. Alexander wants a change of scene. That’s had a large part to play in his decision.
“Alex informed the club of his desire to move to another club.”
Talks
Wenger was livid upon learning that Hleb held talks with Inter officials before the end of the season, and threatened to banish the player to the reserves.
The Frenchman feared Hleb would enact article 17, a FIFA rule that allows players to buy out their own contract if they have played in a particular country for a certain amount of time.
But Spilevski denied that his client would exploit the clause, and insisted that Hleb’s future should be sorted during the week.
“We are not using article 17 of the FIFA rule,” he said. “I can’t tell you anything about where he will be playing yet.
“Talks are underway, and I don’t have the right to make them public. I think that the issue of his new club will be clarified in the next few days.”what the...
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Hleb: Prem Is No. 1
The Belarus international initially struggled at Arsenal following his ₤11 million move from VfB Stuttgart in 2005, many labelling him a flop by the end of his second season in England.
But the 27-year-old finally clicked last season to become one of the Gunners’ key creative outlets, combining with Cesc Fabregas to form a lethal attacking thrust from midfield.The former BATE man has still failed to settle completely to life in London, however, and in recent weeks has been strongly linked with the likes of Inter Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Hleb claims his time at the Emirates has been a real eye-opener, admitting he was completely unprepared for the pace and power of the Premier League, despite his experience in Germany.
The Best
"I have learned in England that there is still so much to improve," Hleb told Frankfurter Allgemeine. "I have always dreamed of playing in a great club. Now I have learned that it is not so easy and a lot of work.
"The first year was a killer. I felt very lonely. It was clear that The Premier League would be a challenge - but with this pace, I have not expected this. The Bundesliga is still a good league, but a season in England feels like two in Germany.
"I will tell you an example: When I was here at the beginning, everything went chop chop, so fast. The pace was madness, even in training. I look for the ball in front of me, then where I can play it - when I looked down again the ball was gone.
"The English league is the best league in the world."
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Hleb Agrees Barcelona Terms - Report
The Barcelona-based daily reports that the Belarussian midfielder met with Txiki Begiristain, Barça's technical secretary, yesterday in Germany.
The meeting between the two in Kaiserslautern apparently went well, meaning that, if Hleb is to join up with the blaugrana, all they must do now is reach a transfer agreement with Arsenal.
However, this is where the difficulty lies, for other clubs are interested in the midfielder. Inter Milan of Italy are one of them, while Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster admitted his admiration for the Gunner yesterday.What's more, the man himself stated that the Premier League is the best in the world, and may even look to remain in England while also leaving the Emirates, unlikely though that may be.
In any case, El Mundo Deportivo believe that an asking price of between €15m and €20m may be requested of any suitor.
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Hleb: If I Leave, It's To Go Abroad
The future of the Belarus international has been cast into doubt in recent weeks after statements from Hleb’s agent Nikolai Shpilevski claiming last week that Wenger had accepted the player’s wish to leave Emirates Stadium.
However, the playmaker has not completely ruled out a move and has said that if he does depart, it would be to Italy or Spain and not to another Premier League side.
Real Madrid and Inter Milan have both shown their interest in weeks gone by, while reports in Spain on Wednesday claimed that Barcelona have a verbal agreement to sign the former Stuttgart star.
However, the 27-year-old has angrily rejected suggestions that he has publicly stated his desire to leave the North London club and claims he would never show such disrespect to manager Arsene Wenger.
“I also see everything on television and the newspapers," Hleb told Setanta Sports.
"I have a contract at Arsenal until 2010. I have also read [that I have said I want to leave], but I do not know who has written it. That is nonsense.
“I have also read that I wanted to move because Arsenal would win nothing, this too is nonsense.
“But I would really not like to comment on the issue really because there is nothing more to say, because the club means so much to me.
“I have learned so much from Arsene Wenger. This man has always supported me and given me the chance to come to Arsenal. I would therefore never say anything negative about Arsenal.
“If I’ll go, then only in a different league, in any case, in England, there is only Arsenal for me.”
Hleb enjoyed a superb season for Arsenal, perhaps his best since arriving in England, but ultimately The Gunners ended up empty-handed when as their bids for the Premier League and the Champions League ran out of steam, with both trophies being won by Manchester United.
Empty-Handed
And at 27, Hleb admits he is concerned at finishing his career with a bare trophy cabinet after coming through three seasons in North London empty-handed.
“Titles are the most important thing,” Hleb added.
“You can play very well, perhaps one of the best ever, but after the career you ask what you have won.
“To win a title is also the most important thing for me. The clock is ticking but it is simply not happening. It is very difficult.
“In this year I thought that I would win two titles, but as I said everything went wrong.
“I do not know what happened. Suddenly everything was gone. It is a pity because this season it was going very well.
“I think I played quite well, even though it could have been better. I am satisfied. Only with the end that we have no title, I am obviously not satisfied.”
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Hleb Heading To Barca - Agent
The words of Vincenzo Morabito add credence to recent rumours linking the Belarussian ace to a switch to Catalunya.
He told the press that Internazionale, under the tutelage of ex-Chelsea boss José Mourinho, have cooled their interest in the midfielder, and with Real Madrid yet to make their move, Barcelona are in the driver's seat.
He said to Unico Grande Amore radio, "He's close to Barcelona. The blaugrana have aimed for months now to bring him to them."But it's a shame that we didn't get to take him to Italy as he was well-admired at Inter.
"Mourinho has chosen a different path, focusing on his own players."
Hleb is rumoured to have already agreed personal terms with Barça, meaning that the club must now seek an accord with Arsenal.
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Bayern Join Race For Hleb
The German capital club look set to continue the rebuilding of their squad as they plan on mounting a serious European challenge upon their return to the Champions League.
The Belarusian international has reiterated his wish to leave the Gunners on multiple occasions and an array of top-flight clubs is believed to be interested in his services.
Although Barcelona were reportedly leading the chase for the 27-year-old midfielder, Bayern Munich's interest may well hinder his move to Camp Nou.A transfer to Allianz Arena would represent Hleb's return to Germany after six years of play at VfB Stuttgart, which ended in 2005 when he moved to England.
It is believed that the Bavarian club are ready to put together an offer worth €15 million for Hleb, a figure Arsenal will agree with, according to reports.
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Hleb: Future Still Undecided
The Belarusian international has reiterated his wish to leave the Gunners on multiple occasions since the end of the season and an array of top-flight clubs is believed to be interested in his services.
Although Barcelona were reportedly leading Inter in the chase for the 27-year-old midfielder, the emergence of Bayern Munich on the scene has led to the speculation increasing in intensity.
“I have not signed with Bayern, Barcelona or any other club,” Hleb insisted to German website Focus Online.
“There is a lot of speculation and talk. I will now rest and spend some time with my friend and representative Niki Spilevski while I think further about my future.”
Arsenal are said to be resigned to losing the 26-year-old, and it is believed that they would not say no to an offer over €15m.
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Arsenal To Barca: Include Yaya In Your Hleb Bid
Having lost Mathieu Flamini to AC Milan, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is looking to bring in a new top-class holding midfielder - and sees Ivory Coast international Yaya Toure, brother of Gunner Kolo Toure, as the ideal replacement for Flamini.
According to some reports, Barcekona have already agreed terms with Hleb's agent regarding his side of the proposed transfer - but the Catalan giants appear reluctant to include Toure as part of the deal.
"Nothing has been decided as yet," said Begiristain.
"But we want Yaya to stay with us and he is not on the market.
"[Barca's new manager Josep] Guardiola considers him to be an important player in his new project."
Toure has previously said he would love to be playing in the same club side as his elder brother Kolo, and it seems Arsenal, irritated by the public courting of some of their players by Spanish and Italian clubs, are prepared to play hardball and only agree transfers that offer them something as well.this saga's gonna last for at least a month
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The Belorussian has made it clear that he is keen to leave the Emirates this summer and the Blaugrana looked to be favourites to secure his services, but the prolonged chase could be called off.
Arsenal are reportedly holding out for €20m and Barça are refusing to go to that amount because they do not feel that the former Stuttgart playmaker is worth that.
Hleb has also not been seen to do enough to help persuade the Gunners to let him go to Camp Nou and the Catalan outfit may well take their search elsewhere.
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