Flamengo confirmed the departure of their centre-back Pablo Mari on social media today, as the defender prepares to join Arsenal.

According to reports, Pablo Mari will join Arsenal on loan in the January transfer window. The club also have an option to buy at the end of the season. David Ornstein claims this fulfils Mikel Arteta’s wish to bring in a left-footed centre-back.

The Gunners are yet to confirm the deal themselves, notoriously slow with announcements. Flamengo, not so much, as they jumped the gun with a post at midday.

In case you don’t speak Portuguese, Flamengo write that ‘the time has come to say goodbye’ to Mari, after his success with the club winning the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian Serie A. They then thank the defender for everything.

Though we’ll still need to wait on Arsenal to confirm the deal and the exact nature of the move, it seems it’s only a matter of time until that happens now.