The agent of Real Valladolid fullback Ivan Fresneda says his client was flattered to be linked with “great clubs” like Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund during the January transfer window.

Reports had suggested that the two teams were competing to sign the teenager for €15m (£13m). However, his representative Luis Bardaji says no formal bids were made for the player, although he left the door open for a transfer this summer:

“Over the weekend we already informed Real Valladolid that there was not going to be any offer, that he was not going to leave in the winter market,” he continued. For us it is not a bad situation, no drama, quite the opposite. Ivan is happy to play for Real Valladolid, to be under the orders of [manager] Pacheta, who is the one who has allowed him to enjoy the way he is doing now. If one day he has to leave, we would like it to be a historic sale for the club.”

Bardaji claims that there were at least thirty different teams that enquired about Fresneda. A number of clubs (in addition to the Gunners and Dortmund) have been mentioned as potential suitors in recent weeks, including other Premier League sides such as Liverpool, Everton, Newcastle, Leeds, Brentford, Fulham, Southampton and Wolves.

However, from the agent’s remarks, it seems as though the 18-year-old was never close to departing Valladolid in January. It could be something that Mikel Arteta’s side revisit in the future.