Reported Arsenal target Danilo Pereira likes what he sees from Mikel Arteta, and he admits he dreams of playing in the Premier League.
The media linked Danilo Pereira with a move to Arsenal last month, and the midfielder certainly isn’t doing anything to play down the speculation.
Speaking to Stats Perform News this week, the 28-year-old had a lot of praise for Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta. He also suggested he’d like to play in the Premier League and would fit in with the Gunners.
“I think he [Arteta] is doing a really, really, good job there,” Pereira said. “He is a really good coach who started as the second coach at [Manchester] City. So he has a little experience and Arsenal play very good football, and I think he is doing very well there.
“The style I think I can fit there, the way he plays also thinking on the ball, the team always has to be together – I think it is a good way to play.
“Of course, I like to be here in Porto, to be here in my country. But I want to be in a better league like the Premier League. I always dreamed about playing in that league…I think it’s the best league in the world.”
The initial reports from England last month suggested Porto could sell for €20m. ESPN claimed that despite Pereira’s €60m release clause, Porto were suffering financially and could cash in for a lot less. The player’s contract to 2022 also seemingly lowered the price.
Portuguese outlet Jornal de Noticias quickly hit back at this rumour, however. They claimed they couldn’t verify the €20m figure and added that Porto turned down €30m for him last summer.