Famous Ukrainian journalist Ihor Tsyhanyk told the story of the transfer in 1999 of defender Oleg Luzhny from Kyiv’s Dynamo to Arsenal, which was led by the legendary Arsène Wenger.
Ihor Tsyhanyk"It was a complicated story. Wenger was always very meticulous about acquiring players. He believed that experienced performers should play in defense. Most importantly, Wenger was very attentive to human qualities.
Shandor Varga - Luzhny’s agent - said that when Luzhny was offered to Wenger, he watched him in the Champions League. Wenger liked Luzhny as a footballer, but he said: "I cannot take him without meeting him."
Wenger requested dinner with Luzhny before signing the contract, although everything had already been agreed upon. They say that Oleg Romanovych impressed him greatly with his straightforwardness, openness - he just fell in love. Luzhny talked a lot about football, about Lobanovskyi, what he should do, how he was taught. After dinner with Luzhny, Wenger gave his final approval for Luzhny to move to Arsenal," the journalist said on the YouTube channel "Ihor Tsyhanyk".
