Zarate chased by Premier League clubs
by Toby Davis, 14 May 2008
On-loan striker Mauro Zarate has quit Birmingham City after the club's relegation put paid to any hopes they had of signing the player on a permanent basis.
Zarate, however, could remain in The Premier League with several clubs expressing an interest in the striker.
The 21-year-old said goodbye to his Birmingham team-mates last night, but met with his agent to discuss potential moves before heading home to Argentina.
Arsenal are understood to have expressed an interest in the player, while some reports suggest he is currently locked in talks with two Premier League clubs.
Zarate's parent club Al Sadd in Qatar are demanding around £20 million for the Argentinian, but former boss Alex McLeish predicted the striker will make an impact wherever he ends up.
"Mauro's going to be an attractive proposition to Premier League clubs, in fact I know he is," McLeish told the Birmingham Mail.
"I would like to thank him for his spell here, and he made an impact, which was never going to be easy.
"It was a little bit of a risk bringing him in from a league where you can get away with things, be lazy and still look like a world class star, coming into the hurly-burly of The Premier League.
"So I applaud his spirit, his heart and he will be a good asset to one of the big clubs, if not here then abroad.
"I said, at times, if he went into a team a little bit technically more proficient than us - and I meant that with no disrespect to our boys - he would be even better.
"He's a real talent and it's just a shame that our situation counted against us.
"I know he's enjoyed being here and living in Birmingham, now we have to move on."
Meanwhile, McLeish confirmed defender Rafael Schmitz had returned to Lille after the club decided not to take up an option on signing the player.
McLeish said: "With regard to Rafael, I have to say he's one of the best professionals I have ever worked with.
"He took it like a man when I said 'look I am going to go with presence in the back four now'.
"I went with him early in my tenure and he acquitted himself well. He is a good player with a good spring, but I always felt we needed more presence and that's why I decided to go back to the taller players.
"I thank him for his time here and wish him all the best."