Arsenal have reportedly set their sights on a Brazilian teenager who has a “technical” taste but is on the pitch.
The Gunners clinched gold when they signed Gabriel Martinelli from Brazil in 2019, and are in a position to make a similar master move.
According to Football Transfers, Arsenal now look interested in Red Bull Bragantino loanee defender Douglas Mendes.
Gunners boss Edu is claimed to be an admirer of the 19-year-old, who is registered with Red Bull Salzburg.
Mendes made his Serie B debut with Ponte Preta before signing for Red Bull with Bragantino.
He was then loaned to Liefering in the Austrian second division and then moved permanently to Red Bull Salzburg in July 2023, he remained on loan in the first.
In January, Mfinishes returned to Bragantino until the end of 2024. To date, he has made four appearances for them this season.
It should be noted that Football Transfers claims that a deal for Arsenal would be “impossible” at the moment, but they insist that this is not “too alarming” for Gunners fans.
Mendes is currently not eligible for a work permit in the UK. However, that could change depending on the first-team experience he gets at Bragantino.
Admittedly, Mendes isn’t ready as a player yet, he only has 24 career competitive starts under his belt.
However, he is a player with wonderful potential, as evidenced by the fact that he recruited through the Red Bull team, as well as his 10 caps for the Brazil under-20 national team.
With a height of 6 feet 2 inches, he is a tall and physically strong player, who is in the Premier League. And his attitude, in fact, would suit the English elite.
“Defenders want to look bad, show more respect,” he told Bragantino in 2022.
“I don’t like to laugh, I don’t like to communicate with the opponent. Off the pitch I communicate, I joke. Inside, everyone does what they want.
Mendes also said: “I have a taste for a more technical game, I don’t like kicks, I like passes between the lines. . . I know I have what it takes to play. “