Internacional striker Yuri Alberto has admitted he “dreams of playing in Europe” amid interest from Premier League rivals Arsenal and Everton, speaking to Globo Esporte.
Who’d have thought when Arsenal were nailed to the bottom of the Premier League without a win or goal to their name that Mikel Arteta’s side would be within touching distance of the top four just a few weeks later, level on points with a Manchester United side expected to fight for the title with Cristiano Ronaldo back on board?
No-one is getting carried away just yet, however. Arsenal fans have been bitten before.
Alexandre Lacazette has been the spark for their recent rejuvenation but the 30-year-old Frenchman is far from a long-term solution. He’s out of contract in the summer and an extension, as things stand, appears unlikely.
Lacazette’s departure, then, would leave Arteta with just two senior centre-forwards – the out-of-favour Eddie Nketiah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who turns 33 in eight months.
Could Yuri Alberto move to Arsenal or Everton?
Alberto, in contrast, has just 20 candles on his birthday cake.
And there’s a growing acceptance at Internacional that the £17 million centre-forward will be plying his trade on the other side of the Atlantic before too long. Arsenal have been aware of his talent since 2017 (GE).
“Every player dreams of one day playing in Europe, in a big league,” says Alberto, comments that will go down well in north London.
“I’m very happy at Inter. I love this club, the way the fans welcomed me. Everything has been wonderful but I do dream of going to Europe.”
Alberto, who has scored three hat-tricks in 2021 alone, insists he “doesn’t know anything” about reported interest from Premier League champions Manchester City with Everton the latest top-flight side to be linked with a January swoop.
Last week, Torcedores reported the Toffees, who have struggled in the absence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, had enquired about Alberto’s availability.
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