The Arsenal deal for Pablo Mari is facing a ‘late hitch’, with the player travelling back to Brazil, according to reports.

The Daily Mail claim the Arsenal move for Pablo Mari ‘collapsed’ over the weekend, and he’s now heading back to Rio de Janeiro. They blame the situation on a late hitch causing negotiations to stall at the final stage.

Mari had his medical, and it doesn’t seem that caused any problems. The Mail claim the plan was for the defender to join on loan with an option to buy at £7.5m.

The latest reports from the Brazilian media did suggest there was a bit of a disconnect over the actual nature of the deal. Many thought it was a permanent move, whilst others insisted it was a loan.

Crucially, Mauro Cezar claimed Flamengo president Rodolfo Landim told him it was permanent. Maybe that’s just what he was hoping the conclusion would be, and the two clubs aren’t in agreement just yet.

That’s the suggestion from various other sources in the English media. Sam Dean and Gunnerblog both claim negotiations are ‘ongoing’. They say the plan was always for Mari to return to Brazil, which is good news.

It’s certainly more encouraging than the narrative about a ‘collapse’. Arsenal have until Friday (transfer deadline day) to complete the deal.