Hleb: London Too Noisy For Me

Hleb, 27, has been linked with a move to Italian giants Internazionale since late February, with Barcelona and even Real Madrid also being named as potential suitors.

However, it is Inter who are said to be leading the way, with the player even thought to have held an illegal meeting with some of the club's representatives when his side were in Italy facing Inter's city rivals Milan in the Champions League.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed he knows what went on during that meeting and is threatening to report the Nerazzurri to FIFA for illegally approaching his player.

More recently, Wenger has insisted that rumours the Belarus international will be buying out his contract (as per the Webster ruling) are false, and that as long as he is under contract he will remain at the club, as they are unwilling to sell.

This merely seems like it will ultimately be an exercise in futility, as the player's agent has voiced his client's desire to leave the club and now Hleb himself is chiming in, albeit with his excuse being somewhat flimsy.

“I’m not a big city man, I need my retreat, that’s why I’m often in Germany," he explained, according to The Sun.

“Stuttgart [where he played prior to Arsenal] is my second home, my friends are there and it is where I feel most comfortable.”

Agent Nikolai Shpilevski added: “Alex is tired of the noisy and chaotic life in London and feels like living in calmer surroundings.”

Chet Winter, Goal.com