'Tomorrow' - £60m-rated Arsenal star makes honest comment on transfer wish after stellar campaign
The star has high hopes of soon playing for his childhood club
Arsenal star Gabriel has admitted he would leave the Emirates ‘tomorrow’ if an opportunity to head to the Brazilian outfit Corinthians came up.
Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the 26-year-old is a huge fan of the club in his homeland but Mikel Arteta is unlikely to be willing to part ways with the centre-back who was a formidable figure in Arsenal’s defence last campaign. The defender formed an imperious partnership with teammate William Saliba in the 2023/24 campaign, helping Arsenal keep 18 clean sheets overall.
Having moved to N7 in 2020 for a fee of just £23m, there has been little talk of the now £60m-rated star leaving the Emirates this season and while Arteta remains on the hunt for a new striker, midfielder and left-back, the defensive trio Ben White, Saliba and Gabriel look set to retain their places in the starting XI.
However, this has not stopped the 26-year-old ex-Lille star dreaming of what his future move could be and a potential return to his homeland. As reported by The Mirror, Gabriel has said he would willingly play for the Brazilian outfit at very short notice.
Speaking about the club, Gabriel admitted: “Corinthians, that’s since I was born and today I don’t think it has to be any different. I still go to Corinthians games by train. It’s my dream, I want to play for Corinthians, I want to feel that energy.
“It’s something to think about. Sometimes I stop and think, 'Do you dream of playing for Corinthians?' I do. 'When would you play for Corinthians?' For me, I’d be at Corinthians tomorrow. I hope it doesn’t take too long because I want to feel the energy of those fans, who are incredible, as soon as possible.”
The defensive heroism of Gabriel and Saliba helped the Gunners to a second-place finish in the Premier League for a second year in a row and while he is now widely regarded as one of the best centre-backs in the league, Gabriel also confessed that at the start of the 2023/24 campaign, he weighed up whether to leave north London after he had been dislodged from the starting XI. Ben White had been pushed back into play the more central role with Saliba while Thomas Partey went in at right-back.
However, a subsequent conversation with Arteta proved crucial and, not only did the 26-year-old go on to be named in the Fans’ 2023/24 Premier League Team of the Season, but he has also quelled any fears that he is set to leave imminently by confirming he wishes to help the club ‘moving forward. “He (Arteta) spoke to me and obviously explained the reasons behind the decision,” Gabriel said. “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.”