Fabrizio Romano says Arsenal 'planning' new contract to keep 'crucial' star who almost quit


Arsenal are already said to be hatching a plan to keep one of their key stars amid talk of interest from elsewhere. The Gunners reshaped their squad significantly over the course of the summer transfer window, adding some quality players in the likes of Riccardo Calafiori, Mikel Merino and Raheem Sterling.
A number of players left, too, with Eddie Nketiah, Aaron Ramsdale and Emile Smith Rowe leaving on permanent deals, while others departed on loan deals. Kieran Tierney could join that list in January, but Arsenal are not expected to commission many more sales or departures in general as they look to go one better in their Premier League title bid.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdOne player who continues to be linked with a move away from the club is star defender Gabriel Magalhaes, who has been on of the club’s standout player so far this season. There is talk of interest from PSG, in particular, while Real Madrid have also been linked with a move.
While Gabriel is under contract until 2027 as things stand Arsenal will need to improve his terms so that his contract not only has another year or two in length but also to reflect his status as one of the best centre-backs in world football.
Fortunately, those conversations will already be planned according to Fabrizio Romano. “We’re hearing many rumours on Gabriel because of the stories about his contract extension, but what I can guarantee now is that nothing is close or imminent,” Romano wrote in his Daily Briefing.
“He remains a crucial player for the Gunners and remember, Arsenal rejected a very important approach from Saudi one year ago. Arsenal will take the time to prepare a new contract proposal to discuss with Gabriel at the right moment. Nothing is going on right now, but for sure, he’s part of the future planning for Arsenal.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdGabriel admission
Gabriel admitted back in February that he had to be convinced to stay during the summer of 2023. He told PA Media: "It was tough, obviously at the start. I wanted to play and it was very difficult for me but I understood what the coach had to do.
“It is difficult for any player to not be in the team but now I'm back in and I want to keep on working hard to prove my worth. [Arteta] spoke to me and obviously explained the reasons behind the decision. Why I should stay - but the most important thing was to remain focused and concentrate - he knew how important I was to the team, so I'm happy to be back and to be able to help the team in every game. I'm happy to be back in the team and hopefully, I can help them moving forward."
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.