Charlie Patino is beginning to make his mark in Spain after a slow start at Deportivo La Coruña, with the former Arsenal midfielder now earning plaudits for his control, composure and consistency in the Segunda División.
Charlie Patino is beginning to show his quality at Deportivo La Coruña, gradually proving why so many at Arsenal rated him so highly as a youngster.
A year after leaving north London for Spain, the 21-year-old midfielder is starting to make a name for himself in the Segunda División for his composure and technical control.
According to La Voz de Galicia, Patino ranks among the most accurate passers in Spain’s second tier, completing more than 90 per cent of his passes and averaging almost 60 successful passes every 90 minutes.
It’s not spectacular football, but it’s quietly assured, built on control and discipline rather than taking risks.
“We make a mistake in that, when he is signed, too much emphasis is placed on him and we want a maximum demand for that player who, suddenly, has to come here at the age of 20, with another language and in a new city,” said sporting director Fernando Soriano, admitting the pressure that followed Patino’s arrival.
The midfielder had to wait until the seventh league game to make his debut, coming off the bench late in a 5-2 win at Albacete, but he has since become a steady part of Antonio Hidalgo’s side.
“His first match against Levante hurt him a lot,” recalled teammate Pablo Martínez, reflecting on Patino’s slow start and subsequent improvement. “He went to the slaughterhouse, although I completely understand the boss: I am telling you that he is not prepared and you don’t stop talking about him, you can see him there.”
Hidalgo now sees him as a deep-lying playmaker. “We see him in the six position,” the coach explained. Patino himself is comfortable with either role. “From 8, I can run forward more and make assists and goals. At 6, catch the ball more and give passes between the lines. I like them both.”
More than half of his passes come from inside his own half, showing how he helps Deportivo control possession and build patiently. His 96 per cent completion rate in a recent game highlighted just how measured his performances have become.
After mixed spells in England with Blackpool and Swansea, the move to Spain seems to have suited him.
Patino looks settled, trusted and focused on his development. It may not yet be headline-grabbing form, but in Galicia he’s growing into the player many at Arsenal always believed he could become.