Moises Caicedo confirms desire to leave Brighton amid Arsenal interest
Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo has openly admitted his wish to leave the Seagulls just four days before the conclusion of the winter transfer window.
In a post on Instagram, the 21-year-old wrote how it was beyond his interests to reject a ‘magnificent opportunity’, in the midst of Arsenal’s latest £60 million launch for his services.
Caicedo has been a pivotal figure in Brighton’s line-up since his return from loan at Beerschot, where he amassed 14 appearances. A £25m deal for Yves Bissouma to Tottenham that excluded further add-ons paved the way for a breakthrough, as he cemented his place in the base of Brighton’s expansive midfield.
Earlier, Chelsea’s first move following longstanding interest in Caicedo was a £55m bid. Brighton laughed it off and duly rejected the proposal. Arsenal stepped up their pursuit by increasing the bid by £5m as they make a push for their first Premier League title in 19 years.
The Seagulls, often shrewd, timely and reluctant to sell their growing assets at meagre prices, snubbed the offer without further ado.
Brighton’s head coach Roberto De Zerbi was relaxed as well, knowing his club’s resistance is sturdy, at least until the summer. He examined the situation, claiming, “I spoke with him like a father, not like a coach. I hope he can stay with us until the end of the season – that’s the best solution for him and for us.”
But present times are dictated by players and agent powers. Clubs and other institutions have been shovelled to the back seat in modern-day football.
Caicedo, brave enough to explain his story and the need for a move that’s too hard to turn down, wrote “I always play football with a smile and with heart. I am proud to be able to bring in a record transfer fee for Brighton which would allow them to reinvest it and help the club continue to be successful.”
He further added “I am the youngest of 10 siblings from a poor upbringing in Santa Domingo in Ecuador. My dream always to be the most decorated player in the history of Ecuador.”
Although he did not reveal his favourite destination, he concluded “The fans have taken me into their hearts and they will always be in my heart so I hope they can understand why I want to take this magnificent opportunity.”
The Ecuadorian has been sensational in the Premier League, and has received plenty of plaudits due to his all round game. Creative, robust, and solid in the middle, Caicedo has bagged two goals and as many assists in 26 appearances. Despite the short sample size, he has caught the eye of the big teams.
Brighton have already lost Leandro Trossard to Arsenal for £27m. The Belgian followed Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Neil Maupay (Everton) and Bissouma – all key players who left during the summer.
Despite the outgoings and the arrival of a new man in charge, the South Coast club sit pretty in sixth place, with 31 points from 19 outings.
It would be extremely surprising if Caicedo plays any part, or even remains a Brighton player, when the team next features in the league – at home to Bournemouth.
Adding an extra level of intrigue, it was recently revealed that Caicedo will skip training and doesn’t plan on suiting up vs. Liverpool in an attempt to force his club’s hand.
The matter seems to now have turned into a standoff between Brighton and the 21 year old’s camp. Who blinks first is anyone’s guess.
-Akarshak Roy
Twitter: @RoyAkarshak
Photo: James Boyes. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.