#254
Well-Known Member
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Even then, I think I prefer the Ukranian guy from the clips I've watched of the two. He is younger too so I'd definitely sign the Ukranian.My guess is that when Mustafi got injured yesterday (clearly Mustafi is never leaving) Arsenal went back to Flamengo and said "Wait a minute, hold on, maybe we will take an obligation to buy him after all." And maybe leaked that they had agreed to a fee for Matviyanko to try to keep Flamengo from trying to hike the price for Mari too much.
At least Tim Vickery sure seems to like Pablo Mari:
https://talksport.com/football/661790/arsenal-transfer-target-pablo-mari-man-city-mistake/
"And he had plenty of positives to share about the Spaniard, who he says single-handedly transformed the way Flamengo play, as they stormed to the Brazilian league and Copa Libertadores double and reached the final of the Club World Cup against Liverpool.
Vickery describes the 26-year-old as an unglamorous centre-back, who has great organisation and positioning and has the bonus of being left-footed.
He also claims Manchester City made a huge error by selling him, and Arteta is wise to want to bring him back to the Premier League with Arsenal.
Speaking on talkSPORT’s Trans Euro Express, the South American expert said: “I’ve been droning on about him to anyone who will listen for the past few months, because I think Manchester City missed a beat with this one.
“He was unknown, he came in very cold and was thrown in at the deep end, but he sorted it out for them absolutely magnificently.
“For me, in that Flamingo side that coasted its way to the Brazilian championship, won the South American title and gave Liverpool a game in the Club World Cup final, I think he was the most important player.
“He’s by no way the most glamorous, but that front four with all the goals being scored by Gabriel Barbosa and Bruno Henrique, it wouldn’t have worked had the team not been able to defend with a high line – and Pablo Mari was the man behind all of that, he was superb.
“Now, this is the chance of a lifetime for him at Arsenal.
“He won’t have the same advantage that he had in Brazil where he was the only centre-back who knew who the play a high line and he organised that and passed out of defence very well.
He hasn’t got express pace, but his positioning is good enough to get him out of jail.
Arteta knows the player, knows what he’s getting and I think it could be a good bit of business for Arsenal.
I don’t think he’s going to be the sensation that he has been in Brazil but I think he can do a competent role there.
A left-footed centre-back is great as well for passing out from the back, it just opens out the pitch so much more.”
