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Wenger has revealed that late Pope Francis helped him a ecure Danny Welbeck’s signature.
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has disclosed that a meeting with Pope Francis on transfer deadline day in 2014 may have inadvertently aided the club's signing of Danny Welbeck from Manchester United.
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What Wenger said
Wenger, a devout Catholic, had a long-standing appointment with the Pope and chose not to miss the opportunity despite the high stakes of deadline day.
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"I am a Catholic, so it was an experience, and one I accepted a long time ago," Wenger said, reflecting on the visit.
He continued, “On top of that, it was a game for peace and multi-religion understanding. I thought today, where we are a bit in front of an international religious war [in Gaza], it was a very important game.
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“He is a great person. He shows humility and is available to meet everybody, has a word with everyone. He is also a football fan—he supports San Lorenzo in Argentina. You cannot be born in Argentina and not be a football fan.
“He spoke with many Argentinians, so I wanted to be discreet and just say, ‘It was nice to meet you and bye’.”
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While waiting to meet the Pope, Wenger continued transfer talks, respectfully putting his phone away during the private audience.
The meeting may have provided Wenger with the clarity and focus needed to finalise the Welbeck deal, which was worth £16 million.
Wenger's commitment to his faith and the meeting with Pope Francis highlights the unique circumstances surrounding the transfer.
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