Ivan Gazidis had promised the optimistic Arsenal fans at the start of the summer that there was enough money for the manager to spend in his bid to bring quality additions to the Emirates.
It wasn’t long before rumors of a potential Gonzalo Higuain move came into the fray and we all know how that panned out. Then of course, there was the Luis Suarez transfer saga and I’m certainly in no mood to talk some more about the Uruguayan because I’ve had my fill.
The media Vultures and their host of keyboard warriors reported that Arsenal was linked with a move for Brazilian wonderkid, Bernard. The youngster has been in Atletico Mineiro’s ranks since 2006 but he was released twice because of the mere fact that he was a bit taller than a goblin but probably at the same height with a hobbit.
Exclusive interview here (you may wanna translate though)
Injury crisis in his club to playing personnel in his position paved the way for the young winger and after a loan move away at Democrata FC (where he scored 14 goals in 16 games), he made his debut in the 2011 Campeonato Brasileirão season notching up 28 appearances.
Last season, Bernard rose to prominence as he, alongside Manchester City reject, Jo, and Brazilian legend, Ronaldinho Gaucho helped Atletico Mineiro to a second place finish in the Brazilian league. Ronaldinho and Jo had 10 goals apiece while Bernard topped the goalscoring charts with 15 goals.
The diminutive Brazilian is renowned for his fleet-footed nature, flamboyancy, finishing, pace, agility, creativity, technique and lovely dribbling skills as you would expect from a Brazilian winger.
With Arsenal reportedly linked to the winger, the manager, Arsene Wenger, was quick to douse any flames from the fire the media Vultures almost started.
Unlike the Higuain situation that made some Arsenal fans gnash their teeth in anguish, there would be no need to lose sleep over this hobbit because his agent has confirmed that he’s on his way to FC Porto or Shakhtar Donetsk, or both for all I care,
“I can confirm that FC Porto is the strongest possibility, but Shakhtar are interested too. He should join one of the two clubs.
“If it is up to me, Bernard will be a Porto player. As I have said, this would be the best solution for him. He would prefer to join a middling, but good, club in Europe rather than risk joining an elite club and not getting the chance to play. Bernard has great interest in going to Porto.”
According to Goal, the young lad also had some conversations with his compatriot, Hulk, about the prospect of FC Porto and I’m positive that Bruce Banner’s angry side would have sang some sweet tunes about his former club, which would wet more ground ahead of a move to FC Porto.
Right about now, Arsenal is blessed with a vast array of versatile midfielders / attackers that can play on the flanks and if I have a chance to choose between any of these players and a hobbit, I’d go with that Gunner, probably with the exception of Gervais Yao Kouassi, that’s closing in on a move to join his former boss, Rudi Garcia, in AS Roma.
As good as Bernard is, he’s no where near Santi Cazorla or even Theo Walcott in class. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a young player that has his best years ahead of him, Arsene Wenger has high hopes for Serge Gnabry and Ryo Miyaichi then of course, Lukas Podolski in simple terms, is an efficient German Machine.
Notwithstanding, Bernard is a player with great potential and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
However, that future will certainly not be with Arsenal Football Club.
Sayonara.
Bonus Reading: Gareth Bale – from an Arsenal Fan’s Perspective. A damn good read!
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