After some clever teasing on social media, Arsenal have finally announced the signing of Portuguese midfielder Fabio Vieira from FC Porto for a reported fee of £30m.
The 22-year-old becomes the Gunners’ first senior signing of the summer and likely the first of many new arrivals for Arsenal in the coming months, with Vieira’s announcement bringing hope to supporters that more transfers are on their way.
With Vieira joining Nuno Tavares and Cedric Soares in north London, Arsenal’s Portuguese contingent has grown stronger with the announcement of the versatile youngster, with the Iberian nation now one of the best-represented nations in the Premier League.
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Indeed, Vieira’s arrival brings the level of quality Portuguese players in the Premier League up by one, and ahead of the new season in early August, here is what a best XI could look like made up of names from the 2016 Euro champions.
Ruben Dias leads solid backline with Joao Cancelo and Jose Sa
When Ruben Diaz and Joao Cancelo are making up just under a half of the backline, you know the defence in this XI is going to be good, with the Manchester City duo once again sensational last season.
The pair were crucial in Pep Guardiola reclaiming the Premier League title, with Cancelo being named in the PFA Team of the Season and Dias forming a key partnership with Aymeric Laporte in central defence.
Making up the rest of the backline are fullbacks Ricardo Pereira and Nelson Semedo, with Wolves keeper Jose Sa arguably the best keeper in the Premier League last season who didn’t play for City or Liverpool in what was a sensational debut campaign for the Portuguese international.
Bernardo Silva headlines stacked midfield alongside Bruno Fernandes
From an incredible backline to arguably an even better midfield, Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes are arguably two of the best players in world football regardless of position, with the Premier League duo huge figures for their respective clubs.
Just like Cancelo, Silva was named in the PFA Team of the Season and was one of Manchester City’s key performers in their Premier League title win, with Fernandes once again one of the few bright spots for Manchester United.
Joining the pair is Ruben Neves, who could reportedly be set to leave Wolves this summer with some huge clubs interested in the Portuguese international after yet another strong campaign with the Molineux side.
Arsenal signing Fabio Vieira lines up with Cristiano Ronaldo and Diogo Jota
Fabio Vieira might be a midfielder by trade, but the new Arsenal signing has actually thrived in more advanced positions for FC Porto, particularly out on the right-wing, a role that Gunners’ supporters could potentially see on more than one occasion.
Making up the rest of the attack are of course Cristiano Ronaldo and Diogo Jota, with the Manchester United striker enjoying a brilliant year with the Red Devils upon his return to the Premier League last summer.
As for Jota, the forward continued to look like a bargain signing 12 months after Liverpool signed the attacker from Wolves for a reported £40m, with the Portuguese international bagging 21 goals in all competitions as well as eight assists in what was a near-historic campaign for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
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