Arsenal new boy Shkodran Mustafi looking to forward to Premier League’s battles after five years away
Former Everton defender always wanted to return to England for physical challenges
SHKODRAN MUSTAFI is a model player — but has waited FIVE YEARS to return to England for a scrap.
Arsenal’s new signing arrives from Valencia as the perfect pro for Arsene Wenger’s side.
The down-to-earth German, a devout Muslim, did not even want to be pictured with a beer when he was in Spain and club sponsors Estrella put a bottle in front of him at a press conference.
But on the pitch he is ready to fight. That is what the centre-back missed most when he left the Premier League back in 2012 after his spell at Everton.
In his three years at Goodison Park he only made one appearance — in a defeat to BATE Borisov in the Europa League.
But it made him yearn for another chance in the most physical competition on the planet.
Mustafi, 24, said: “The time in England helped me to grow up, to be a man from a boy.”
It was David Moyes who let him join Sampdoria in Italy for free. Then a move to Valencia followed.
Going to Spain came in a whirlwind summer when he also won the World Cup with Germany in 2014.
Mustafi added: “Everything went a bit quick. I had my first game and two months later I am going to Brazil. It is nice as you don’t have time to think about what will happen.
“I dreamt to win the World Cup but I know to make the step from youth teams to the first team was not easy. Then to go to Brazil and to win was a dream that came true.”
After the triumph, Mustafi had his picture taken with German leader Angela Merkel — another one of his proud moments.
He said: “I would never think to have this trophy in my hand and the most important person in Germany next to me. It was a fabulous feeling.”
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Coming back to prove himself in the Premier League was always part of his plan.
One of his closest pals said: “Valencia wanted to build a team around him but he was still dreaming of returning to England.
“It suited his style of play that there was traffic in the penalty area.
“There was fighting man to man and he is good at heading — much more of this is played in the Premier League compared to Italy and Spain.”
Wenger has turned to Mustafi to ease his defensive crisis.
The German’s dancing celebrations with Per Mertesacker after winning the World Cup were funny and disturbing in equal measure.
But do not expect the former Hamburg defender to be making regular headlines. Mustafi speaks four languages after being born into an Albanian family and playing in Germany, England, Italy and Spain.
His pal added: “It is not normal that a person like him is so normal at this stage of his career. There is no scandal, he is a perfect player for a team.”