Raul Sanllehi was the only man able to deal with Neymar and he signed Luis Suarez for below the asking price... so how good is Arsenal's new deals chief?

'One of the best in the business at what he does' is how top agents tend to describe former Barcelona director of football Raul Sanllehi.

Now, he is heading for Arsenal to move in alongside manager Arsene Wenger as part of the restructuring of their scouting and recruitment.

Here, Sportsmail looks at  the Gunners' incoming signings supremo, how he has built his excellent reputation, and what he will do for the club.

Raul Sanllehi (right) is heading for Arsenal as part of the club's recruitment restructuring

Raul Sanllehi (right) is heading for Arsenal as part of the club's recruitment restructuring

Sanllehi's negotiation skills helped Barcelona to acquire the likes of Neymar and Luis Suarez

Sanllehi's negotiation skills helped Barcelona to acquire the likes of Neymar and Luis Suarez

 

What is Sanllehi's background?


Sanllehi arrived at Barcelona in 2003 as part of new president Joan Laporta's team.

Having previously worked as a Nike executive helping to promote Barcelona's pre-season tours his first responsibilities at the club centred on strengthening that partnership with the sports brand and maximising the club's merchandising potential elsewhere.

But it was soon realised by those working around him that his skills as a negotiator and communicator could be put to far better use in the transfer market.

From then, until this week when he brought the curtain down on 15 years service, he was the director working side-by-side with past sporting directors Txiki Begiristain, Andoni Zubizarreta and incumbent Robert Fernandez. When they identified a signing, Sanllehi was the man dispatched to make it happen.

Barcelona celebrate winning the 2015 Champions League - a team Sanllehi helped construct

Barcelona celebrate winning the 2015 Champions League - a team Sanllehi helped construct

 

And he was successful?

Hugely, in as much as he helped the club build successful squads during four Champions League wins under three different presidents.

In 2014 he led negotiations with Liverpool's Ian Ayre to bring Luis Suarez to Barcelona from Anfield and he succeeded in closing the deal for £75million, less than Liverpool had wanted.

He helped bring in Ivan Rakitic and Marc Andre ter Stegen in the same summer and it was a squad that Luis Enrique was able to win the Treble with in his first season. He was also instrumental in Pep Guardiola assembling the team that won the Treble in 2009.

Luis Suarez is pictured arriving at Barcelona in 2014 - and Sanllehi got the asking price down

Luis Suarez is pictured arriving at Barcelona in 2014 - and Sanllehi got the asking price down

And Neymar is to a large extent his success story. He made sure the Brazilian ended up at Barcelona in 2011 and not at Real Madrid - and he kept him from Paris Saint-Germain's clutches in 2016 by jetting to Brazil to spend a week talking the family back down from a decision to move to France.

He was unable to do the same last summer. But even during the Neymar-Barca meltdown, Sanllehi was key to any chance Barcelona had of keeping the Brazilian, picked out by the player and his father as the only Barcelona director they were willing to deal with.

So he doesn't pick the players out but he makes sure they sign.

Neymar is to a large extent Sanllehi's success story given his history with the Brazil superstar

Neymar is to a large extent Sanllehi's success story given his history with the Brazil superstar

 

What makes him so good at his job?

Professionalism, charisma, and great communication skills. Be it with a player, a player's parent, or a selling club. He is also fluent in English as well as Catalan and Spanish.

And he is a football man, not just a suit making his living from the game. Aged 48, he can still get up and down the wing in a five-a-side game.

Sanllehi sits alongside Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu at a 2014 press conference

Sanllehi sits alongside Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu at a 2014 press conference

 

What else will he bring?

Just as the capture of Sven Mislintat from Borussia Dortmund will open up the German market for Arsenal, the incorporation of Sanllehi ought to do likewise for the South American one.

He has worked closely with Barcelona's man in Brazil Andre Curry this summer as he tracked young Gremio midfielder Arthur Melo and his team-mate Luan Vieira.

He was instrumental in bringing Brazil midfielder Paulinho to the Nou Camp and he was part of the ongoing operation to sign Philippe Coutinho. South America is a huge market for Barcelona and he has 15 years of experience and contacts there.

Arsenal are also bringing in Sven Mislintat from Borussia Dortmund in their restructuring

Arsenal are also bringing in Sven Mislintat from Borussia Dortmund in their restructuring

Sanllehi has also helped Barcelona build bridges with UEFA over the years and made their voice heard within the European Club Association.

Part of his job will be to keep Arsenal relevant on the big stage, especially while they sit outside of the Champions League.

 

Will this signal an increase in traffic between Arsenal and Barcelona?

If Mesut Ozil were to move in January from The Emirates to the Nou Camp it could suit all sides. But Barcelona insist Coutinho remains their No 1 option.

There is also the suggestion that Schalke's Leon Goretzka, who is an Arsenal target to replace Ozil, is now very much on Barcelona's radar. So Sanllehi could also find his old club as much a foe as a friend.

Schalke's Leon Goretzka is an Arsenal target and could also end up on Barcelona's radar

Schalke's Leon Goretzka is an Arsenal target and could also end up on Barcelona's radar

 

When does he start?

There could be a short break before the 2018 transfer window opens but he knows that January could be an even busier than usual month around Europe's big clubs and will want to make sure Arsenal are ready to make it count.

Arsenal and manager Arsene Wenger will want to make sure the January window counts

Arsenal and manager Arsene Wenger will want to make sure the January window counts