Arsenal will pay Flamengo £15.5m to turn Pablo Mari’s loan into a permanent move despite the player hardly featuring before picking up an injury that will require surgery.
Before arriving at Arsenal, Mari had missed just nine games through injury in his entire career. That’s the same number the 26-year-old will miss for Arsenal this season after just 204 minutes on the pitch for the Gunners as he proved he is made of pure Arsenal DNA.
The injury that he picked up against City on Wednesday will require surgery to repair his ankle problem.
However, his parent club have confirmed his move to Arsenal will become permanent.
Acordo selado! Após empréstimo, Arsenal concretiza compra de Pablo Marí, do Flamengo https://t.co/7dPkL0T65B
— Coluna do Fla | Flamengo (@ColunadoFla) June 19, 2020
The statement read, “Defender Pablo Mari arrived at Flamengo in the second half of 2019 and became a key player in Jorge Jesus’ team.
“With such success, it did not take long to attract interest from Europeans. Earlier this year, he was loaned to Arsenal, and the English club decided to exercise the purchase right and stay with the athlete permanently.
“With the purchase, Pablo Mari became the most expensive defender ever negotiated by Flamengo. Since the start of the loan, Fla had already received €5million.
“In total, the transaction can reach €16million [£15.5million], with bonuses.”
This reportedly breaks down as follows:
- €5m loan fee
- €3m purchase clause
- €1m in bonuses for every 10 games he plays, up to 80 games or €8m
Since the restart of the Premier League, Arsenal have lost Mari, Granit Xhaka and Bernd Leno to injury in just two games.
They join Calum Chambers, Sokratis, Cedric Soares, and Lucas Torreira in the treatment room.