Image credit: Getty Images
Nicolas Jackson’s agent has disclosed that the former Chelsea striker was hugely impressed by Arsenal summer signing Noni Madueke during their time together at Stamford Bridge.
Both players departed Chelsea in the summer transfer window, with Jackson sealing a move to Bayern Munich while Madueke completed a £50 million switch to Arsenal. The Gunners’ decision to invest heavily in the winger sparked scepticism among sections of their fanbase, with some even starting a petition against signing another player from their London rivals.
Madueke’s inconsistency at Chelsea had fuelled doubts, but his former teammate Jackson rated him highly in training, according to his representative Ali Barat.
“It’s important to make the right steps. You see with Noni how well it’s going for him at Arsenal at the moment,” Barat told theDaily Mail. “I had dinner with his dad the other day and I’m so happy for them because they’re such a great family. To be honest, the one who told me that Noni was brilliant was Nicolas Jackson. He said, ‘Ali, this kid is so good. Trust me, he’s so good at training.’”
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While Madueke has made a bright start under Mikel Arteta in north London, Jackson is looking to establish himself in Bavaria under Vincent Kompany. Bayern paid a substantial fee to secure him on loan, with a £56m permanent transfer lined up for next summer if certain conditions are met.
Noni Madueke
Noni Madueke (Image credit: Getty Images)
However, Bayern president Uli Hoeness has already cast doubt on whether those criteria will be fulfilled, suggesting the Senegal international could ultimately return to Chelsea.
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Reflecting on the complexities of Jackson’s transfer, Barat admitted there were moments of uncertainty.
“It was very intense. There was a willingness and the ability of the clubs to take into account,” he said. “Nico had a really clear vision of his next step, but obviously he was a Chelsea player and we had to respect their wishes.
“It required a lot of diplomacy and patience, but in the end, Nico was super happy and the deal was done. Hopefully it will be a success for Chelsea in the end and for Bayern Munich. Absolutely there was a sense of satisfaction. Bayern Munich is such a big club.”
Asked if he feared the move would collapse, Barat added: “Absolutely. At one point, it was certainly under huge doubt but we just had to keep everyone calm and patient. In the end, we were in Chelsea’s hands. If Chelsea didn’t get their replacement, there was a big chance Nico would have had to go back.”
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