Arsenal star Gabriel Magalhaes has been a standout performer for Mikel Arteta’s side this season, but if things had worked out differently, he may not have even joined the club.
The 26-year-old is now one of the best centre-backs in Europe, and his partnership with William Saliba was the best in the Premier League this season.
The Brazil International has continued to improve in each of his seasons at the club since his arrival in 2020, and is now an established leader within the team.
Arsenal may now consider themselves lucky that they not only have Gabriel tied down to a long-term contract, but that they even managed to sign him in the first place, as he has now revealed how close he was to joining Everton.
Gabriel Magalhaes reveals how he could have joined Everton instead of Arsenal
Speaking in an interview with TNT Sports Brazil, the defender revealed that a deal had been agreed with Everton during his time at Lille, but the disruption to football caused by the pandemic had stopped the move, before Arsenal then swooped in to sign him.
“It was very quick, I was, I think, in my second year playing for Lille and my transfer was really crazy, because I had an offer from Everton, and I went to Everton, had medical tests and soon after the pandemic arrived,” he revealed.
“Then some things happened, the Championship in France stopped and I returned to Brazil. When I returned to Lille my manager told me that Arsenal are interested in me.
“That’s when I stopped to think, I talked to my parents about playing in the Premier League with Arsenal, and as the days went by, Edu called me, along with the coach, and talked to me about the project.
“I hadn’t signed anything with Everton, but it was a matter of details, because what really got in the way was the pandemic. If it weren’t for the pandemic I would have gone to Everton.”
Gabriel Magalhaes is one of Mikel Arteta’s best Arsenal signings
Gabriel was the first player Arteta spent a transfer fee on in his time as manager, arriving in August 2022 from Lille for around £27m as a 22-year-old.
Given how well he has progressed since, it is fair to say that the defender is one of the best signings Arteta has ever made.
Gabriel settled well but was still learning in his first season, but he really developed into a key part of the team in his second campaign.
READ MORE: All Mikel Arteta signings at Arsenal ranked from worst to best
He is now an almost undroppable figure in the squad, and Arsenal will hope that they can keep hold of him for years to come. Whilst Gabriel has admitted a desire to one day play for Corinthians in Brazil, his prime years will likely come as a regular starter at the Emirates.
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