Monza’s owner Silvio Berlusconi appears to like the cut of Pablo Mari’s jib (and hair) with reports surfacing this morning that the Serie A club have submitted an official offer to take the Spaniard on loan for the 2022/23 campaign.
Out of favour at Arsenal, the 28-year-old has been linked with a host of Italian clubs this summer after impressing in Udinese colours in the second half of last season.
Promoted to Serie A for the first time in their history, Monza face a big challenge retaining their status amongst Italy’s big boys but if they do, transfer aficionado Fabio Romano, claims they will be obligated to buy Pablo next summer.
That doesn’t do much for Arsenal’s balance sheet in the short-term but it will get the centre-back’s wages off the books for 12 months, at least.
Monza have submitted an official proposal for Pablo Marí: loan with obligation to buy, mandatory clause in case Monza will remain in Serie A next season. 🚨🔴 #AFC
Up to Arsenal now, working on Marí and Lucas Torreira departures – Galatasaray pushing for the Uruguayan. pic.twitter.com/5gyHT9ZmN9
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 4, 2022
Mari signed for the Gunners from Brazilian side Flamengo on loan in January 2020 but hasn’t had much to shout about at the Emirates. He was just getting into his stride when the pandemic brought football to a halt and then suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the first game back.
He featured 18 times in the 2020/21 season but only three times last season before it was decided he might be better served playing elsewhere.
His hair is glorious. That Berlusconi fella knows business
If we were selling based on looks, he’d bring in 100M!
Italy is the perfect destination for him. Suits his style more than England and could be handy CB for a club like Monza.
More loans than Wonga
Hail Mari (but no pace).
But full of grace
A source close to the club has actually contradicted the fees Fabrizio has stated:
Arsenal have agreed to loan Mari to Monza for the 2022/23 season. In order for the loan to be completed Arsenal will have to pay an initial £3m loan fee and if Mari makes more than 15 appearances then Arsenal will be obligated to pay an additional £8m to make the deal permanent.
Monza were holding out for a larger fee but now the two clubs have reached an agreement.
I don’t know who to believe.
Arsenal to pay?
Sarcasm
Oh, my poor English! Thanks Zipper!
Fabrizio Romano, not Fabio
Hope it works out for him. Totally out of depth in EPL.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing and all that, but the moral of the story surely is – If you’re having trouble getting certain players off your books, then more fool you for buying said crappy players in the first place!
‘Willian’s Law’
Let’s hope we’re finally learning our lessons…..
Why not call it “Lucas Peres’s Law” or “Mustafi’s Law”?
What did Lucas Perez ever do wrong
I’m surprised one of our resident comedians hasn’t suggested ‘Ozil’s Law’……🙄
I was actually a Perez enjoyer. Weird deal but he didn’t get a proper run. Will always remember that hat trick in the champions league and his volley against Bournemouth, I think it was.
Players we probably want to get rid of that are still at the club:
Torreira
AMN
Nelson
Pepe
Mari
Cedric (?)
How many (and which) of these could feasibly be good squad fodder for us this season?
Oops, forgot Bellerin and Runarsson!
Only one of those players i can might have a role is Runersson as third choice goalie
I think Karl Hein is the third goalie.
… in that case. I have to believe Runarsson is on his way out. Given his age, I would assume he would want to play weekly.
Cedric no, definitely need him for for another year until we have found a deputy to Tomiyasu.
We have one; Ben White – check him out this Friday.
In fact, we have two, if you count Norton-Cuffy.
Cedric is an accident waiting to happen; we seriously need to get rid him. The Premiership is critical this season; we cannot afford to have his brain farts handing the points over to the opposition.
Ben White at RB is only presuming Saliba hits the ground running and Norton-Cuffy is completely unproven. I know Cedric is not everyone’s cup of tea but I’d still rather have him that not at this current stage of the rebuild.
I can see Arteta playing Ben White at right back if needs be, with Saliba and Gabriel centre halves….
I agree with list except for Nelson and Pepe. I think Nelson might get another loan if not kept for Europe as insurance for injuries and Pepe is a hard one.
I noticed Pepe was very much used in various promotions, something the aforementioned players were not, for that very reason. It would seem strange to use a player in that way if he (or she) were on their way out the door?
Pepe and AMN are definitely worthy of the bench.
The rest, no.
Cedric needs to be moved on ASAP. The others can at least play a bit – Cedric is a liability.
Yet another loan!! As much as we have done some good business this summer, we really need to up our game in the departure lounge. We seem to be absolutely woeful.
It’s less of an issue with being bad at getting players out the exit door, and more to do with the deals made for the players in the first place. Runnarson – a pretty average, probably Championship level goalie – is on well over 50k per week. Pepe is on 140k per week. Cedric is on big money. The fact of the matter is that these players aren’t good enough for the clubs that could afford them! Torreira is another example (though I think most of us agree that he is good enough for arsenal and it hasn’t worked out… Read more »
A loan and wages off the books is still better than nothing, and it’s definitely better than paying someone to terminate their contract “mutually”.
Yes, please. Hope we can find some place for Reiss and Ainsley as well. They surely have value? Not sure about Pepe, clubs might take a shot only if he’s available for free.
I can’t understand why we are so bad at selling? Actually it I take that back after Edu says stuff like “But someone will pay if you sell? No, guys — if the player is above 26, 27 and not performing, big salary, no chance.” Basically just tell the market you can get experienced players for a pittance. I mean Mari’s not amazing but surely he’s worth at least 5 mil? Leno going for 8 is a joke and the talk of Bellerin who is a quality player in his prime and playing well at Betis going for free is… Read more »