Edu explains thinking as Arsenal secure Pablo Mari in bargain deal

Arsenal have announced that they have signed Pablo Mari from Flamengo.

The Premier League club have secured the services of the 26-year-old central defender on loan until the end of the season.

The Gunners have also announced that they have an option to make the loan deal of Mari permanent in the summer of 2020 with the fee believed to be set at £6.2million.

Speaking after the acquisition of the former Manchester City prospect, Arsenal technical director Edu raved about the defender and outlined why he was signed.

“Pablo is an experienced player who will provide us with additional defensive quality,” Edu told Arsenal’s official website.

“We have been monitoring Pablo’s career for a while and we are very pleased to have reached agreement with Flamengo for him to join us initially until the end of our season.

“Together with Mikel and his coaching team, we are all looking forward to seeing Pablo in an Arsenal shirt.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Flamengo announced on Twitter that the Spaniard was leaving and paid a fitting tribute to the former Manchester City prospect.

The Brazilian club wrote on Twitter: “Time has come to say goodbye to this defender who arrived at Flamengo and made his mark in our history with Conmebol Libertadores and Campeonato Brasileiro titles. Pablo Mari, thanks for everything.”

Chegou a hora de nos despedirmos desse zagueiro que chegou ao Flamengo para deixar a sua marca na nossa história com os títulos da Conmebol Libertadores e do Campeonato Brasileiro. Pablo Marí, obrigado por tudo. #CRF pic.twitter.com/z5skwsimzO

— Flamengo (@Flamengo) January 29, 2020

The transfer of Mari to Arsenal was far from straightforward, with reports claiming that negotiations between the Gunners and Flamengo had stalled at a late stage.

Mari had undergone a medical, but manager Mikel Arteta was already looking at alternatives.

However, it seems that the two clubs have finally come to an agreement, and Mari will hope to help the Gunners in their quest to finish in the top four of the Premier League and win the Europa League this season.

The left-footed centre-back, who was at City from 2016 until 2019 but failed to make a breakthrough into the first team, was an important player in Flamengo’s success in Brazilian Serie A title and the Copa Libertadores last year.

Mari also played for Flamengo in the 2019 Club World Cup final against Liverpool in December.

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