Flamengo center-back Pablo Mari has arrived in London and made confirmation he is ready to sign a deal that will make official his joining up with Arsenal. The transfer is initially a loan deal between the two clubs, but the Gunners are looking to make it permanent with a £7.5 million offered to the Spaniard.
Mari is seen as the answer to the Gunners' defensive woes that were compounded by the recent sidelining of Calum Chambers, who is not expected to return in the season. He will be the first signing under Mikel Arteta, who came in last year following the sacking of fellow Spanish manager Unai Emery.
According to The Daily Mail, the reluctant Flamengo, which won the Copa Libertadores in 2019 with Mari figuring prominently in the campaign, sent the defender to the Emirates on loan but Arsenal has intentions to make the acquisition a permanent deal.
Pending the result of his medical tests, Mari will be presented with a contract that will seal his stay with the Gunners, which badly need to bolster their defensive maneuvers. It is believed the hiring of Mari will be the first step on the plan by Arsenal to improve gameplay that conceded too many points to the opposition.
Also, by making his first transfer deal, it was clear that Arteta is continuing on his efforts "to stamp his authority on the under-performing squad," the report added.
Arsenal technical director Edu was reported to have accompanied the new recruit from Rio De Janeiro in Brazil to London. The two arrived in the English capital on Saturday, and Mari was asked by media men on his rumored move to Emirates.
The reply from the Spaniard was a resounding yes, essentially confirming that he'd be playing for Arsenal from hereon, according to Metro.
Mari will be required to undergo medical examination then will be briefed next on the terms of his agreement with Arsenal, somehow affirming the suggestion that the Premier League club intends to keep the center-back on a permanent basis, the report added.
While Flamengo was initially reluctant to let go of Mari, the Brazilian side seemed to have been persuaded by an offer made by Arsenal. If true that the signing is worth £7.5 million then it came as no surprise that the selling club eventually agreed.
Flamengo acquired Mari from Manchester City and paid £1 million to complete the deal, so it proved that the investment made on the Spanish player paid off in financial terms.
