"Pellegrini is the Wenger of the Spanish League"

"Pellegrini es el Wenger de la Liga española"

There, there, dear doubters. Arsenal's manager is held in such high regard. Why would we even dream of letting him go?

Manuel Pellegini should take this as a ringing endorsement from Jorge Valdano (In Spanish). Even though he might personally hate the comparison. Each manager believes he is endowed with some unique qualities.

Valdano was asked if Wenger had come calling on Saturday, would there have been a change of heart. He said, "It was already too late. To dally, would have created more doubt."

The club made Wenger their top choice. Followed by Carlo Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho. As each manager made clear that Real was not on their horizon, the club needed to act quickly and went after Manuel Pelligrini. It was clear that these refusals by their top choices was damaging Florentino Perez's cause to right the ship. To make sure that Pellegrini acquiesced, the club paid Villareal four million euros, a condition in the manager's termination clause.