Udinese’s technical director Pierpaolo Marino admits that the Serie A club will sign Premier League misfit Pablo Mari from Arsenal, speaking to Mediaset.
Earlier this week, Marino was rather coy when pressed about the possibility of Mari swapping the Emirates Stadium for the Dacia Arena.
But, with an agreement between Arsenal and Udinese edging ever closer, the Friuli director is slightly more forthcoming today.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Mari will undergo a medical with the Serie A outfit later this week.
A £7 million signing from Brazilian giants Flamengo, the one-time Manchester City man has not been seen in the Premier League since being ragdolled by Romelu Lukaku during a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea back in August.
After that disastrous display, Mari quickly fell behind Benjamin White, Gabriel Magalhaes, Rob Holding and Calum Chambers in Mikel Arteta’s pecking order.
“Pablo Mari? He is a player everyone knowns, who comes from Arsenal,” says Marino, translated by Tuttomercatoweb.
Is Pablo Mari on his way out of Arsenal?
Mari will replace Samir at Udinese.
27-year-old Samir left to join Watford last week and impressed on his top-flight debut in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with fellow relegation battlers Newcastle United.
“(Mari is a) central defender of structure, good in the air, one that can strengthen us and replace Samir.”
Mari has also been linked with a return to Brazil recently. He played a major role in the Flamengo side who won a historic treble under mercurial manager Jorge Jesus.
Flamengo’s Vice President, Marcos Braz, described Mari as a ‘sensational’ player earlier in the January transfer window. Braz did add, however, that the 28-year-old Spaniard had little interest in another spell in South American football, preferring instead to stay in Europe.
Arsenal should also part with Sead Kolasinac this month, the seldom-seen Serb closing in on a move to Marseille.
Lucas Torreira could also seal a permanent move to Fiorentina. He has been joined in Italy by Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
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