MADRID (Sporting Alert) Barcelona midfield maestro Andres Iniesta is hoping his fellow Spanish teammate David Villa does not leave the club in January.
Villa has dropped down the pecking order in the Barcelona strikers list since returning from surgery after breaking his leg last season, and he is now being linked with a move away from the Camp Nou.
It is believed that Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC are both tussling for the proven goalscorer, but Iniesta has admitted that he would rather see his good pal stay with the Spanish La Liga leaders.
“I don’t know if there’s a chance (he could leave), I don’t think so, although for me personally I wouldn’t like it if he did, because Villa is a vital,” Iniesta was quoted as saying.
Barcelona head coach Tito Vilanova is constantly choosing to play the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Pedro over Villa, who is Spain’s all-time leading goalscorer.
So Premier League sides Chelsea and Arsenal are reportedly very interested in the former Valencia man, who, according to sources is very frustrated at not being given his fair share of chance to fight for a place.
It is also believed that while Pedro has been playing well recently, the instant return of Sanchez to the starting line-up after coming off an injury doesn’t sit well with Villa.
But while Chelsea are said to be in pole position to land the signature of Villa in the January transfer window, there are many who believe that the Spaniard would also struggle to get into the Premier League team with the likes of Juan Mata, Oscar, Eden Hazard and Victor Moses all on the list of players already in front of him.
