Arsenal have failed in their attempts to sign Real Madrid attacking midfielder Cesar Gelabert, according to reports in the Spanish media.

It was reported back in April that Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was a big fan of the 19-year-old, after watching him play in the UEFA Youth League, but both the London club and Leeds had enquiries knocked back by Real this summer.

Gelabert is regarded as a promising young prospect by the La Liga champions, and they have also turned down approaches from the likes of Valencia, Levante, Real Sociedad and Atalanta in recent months for the player.

The Spanish youth international has yet to play a game at first team level but the midfielder is still confident he can make his breakthrough at the Bernabeu.

Arteta’s interest in Gelabert is unlikely to go away, though, and if he fails to get the game time he needs at Real, Arsenal may well go back in for him in the future.