Gremio winger Bitello is now ‘finalising’ a move to Dinamo Moscow to bring an end to reports linking him with Premier League giants Arsenal.
If you’d believed what you read, then you’d have been forgiven for thinking that Bitello was pretty much destined to become an Arsenal player before the transfer window closed on September 1st.
His move a case of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’.
According to 90Min, Mikel Arteta’s Premier League challengers were ‘confident’ of getting a deal done for the late-blooming winger, having sent representatives to Brazil in order to rubber-stamp the agreement. Bitello, meanwhile, was reportedly keen on joining compatriots Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Magalhaes at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal will not be signing Bitello now
It quickly became apparent, however, that those reports were a little premature.
And while a switch to the Russian capital certainly feels like something of an ‘intermediate’ move – a stepping stone on the pathway to something greater – Bitello is one Arsenal may consider again somewhere down the line, once he has proven himself this side of the Atlantic.
“We are finalising the deal for Bitello’s transfer to the Russian club (Dinamo Moscow),” the forward’s agent tells Meta Ratings. “Until there is a final agreement, much will depend on Bitello’s desire, because everything suits him at Gremio.”
Russian giants have bid accepted
Brazilian-Russian reporter Fabio Aleixo believes that Gremio have accepted Dinamo Moscow’s £8.5 million bid. Bitello, meanwhile, is keen to point out that nothing has been signed just yet, though speed is off the essence with the Russian transfer window closing on September 14th.
“There is an offer, but I leave it to my agent,” Bitello tells Aleixo. “He knows what I want. I am focused here. I’m having good training days and, when I get back (to Gremio), I’ll have it all figured out.
“There is an opportunity (to join Dynamo). Right now, nothing is certain. Let’s see what happens.”
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