Mikel Arteta comes clean on Real Madrid talks before completing transfer

Mikel Arteta has disclosed that he sought counsel from Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso prior to securing one of Arsenal's summer signings. The Spaniard reached out to his longtime associate before bringing in Piero Hincapie during the latter stages of the transfer window.

Arsenal secured Hincapie on an initial loan arrangement from Bayer Leverkusen. The deal contains an option to purchase the Ecuador international for £45million, as he joined whilst Jakub Kiwior departed through the exit door.

Whilst Hincapie will provide backup for Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba in the short term, the Ecuador international could prove to be a strategic long-term acquisition for the Gunners. It's hardly surprising that Arteta sought expertise regarding the 23-year-old.

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Few individuals will understand the defender better than Alonso, given that 121 of his 197 club outings occurred under the former Liverpool midfielder. Alonso evidently offered a glowing endorsement.

"Yes, for sure, I had to," said Arteta on contacting the ex-Leverkusen manager. "I mean, someone like him that I know so well, trust him and had him for a few years.

"It's very, very valuable information to have. He was super complimentary of him for many different reasons and it was good to confirm what I saw.

"And some of the things that you obviously learn from that conversation that you probably weren't very aware of."

The start has proved challenging for Hincapie, though. The adaptable defender has featured for merely a single minute at the club and has been hampered by a groin problem.

Hincapie has returned to training ahead of the Fulham fixture, though. Arteta is thrilled by his comeback.

"He will be training today again with us," the Arsenal manager said. "If everything is right, he will be available as well. He is a player that is going to help us a lot, he is going to bring something different to the team - and we need to get him going. What you're going to witness is his aggression, his determination.

"He's a player who goes full throttle into every single action, especially in defending. And with the ball, whether he plays as a left centre-back or a full-back, a player who is very tidy on the ball.

"Again, someone who really wants to penetrate, whether it's with the ball, his positioning, and it will bring a different character and emotion to the team."