A former Arsenal player has revealed that he found things ‘very tough’ after leaving the North London club.
Several ex-Gunners stars have recently publicly expressed regret about departing N5, or revealed that they wished they were still at the Emirates.
Matt Turner claimed that he shouldn’t have left Arsenal when he did, while Amario Cozier-Duberry revealed that leaving was a difficult decision.
The grass isn’t always greener elsewhere, at least in the immediate aftermath of parting ways with such a prestigious club.
Charlie Patino says leaving Arsenal was ‘very tough at the start’
Charlie Patino was once dubbed the next Jack Wilshere.
The central midfielder came through the Hale End academy system, and there was widespread excitement around Arsenal that he could develop into something special.
However, while he did make two appearances for the Gunners’ first team and even scored a goal in one of them, he eventually left after two separate unsuccessful loan spells.
Patino has been hampered by injury issues and was ultimately sold for just £1 million by Mikel Arteta in the summer of 2024.
Joining Spanish Segunda Division side Deportivo de La Coruna, he’s made just 16 appearances in 14 months for his new club.
Speaking to Xane Silveira on TikTok about his decision to exit Arsenal, Patino admitted that it was ‘very tough’ moving to a new country and adapting to his new surroundings.
“Yeah, it was obviously very tough at the start,” he said.
“A new place, new country, new language, yeah, it was difficult at first, but the players helped me a lot. The staff were here to help as well.
“Now, one year later, I’m learning the language, having lessons, yeah, it’s good and I’m very happy.”
Charlie Patino can still enjoy an excellent career at the top level
Patino is yet to turn 22, and thus, is still very much in the early stages of his career.
The midfielder flaunted exceptional technical quality at a young age, but lacked the physicality and athleticism to impress in English football.
Struggling to deal with the physical side of the game on loan in the Championship, a move to Spain, where the football is less intense, is perhaps a smart one for his career development.
Last season, he was hindered by injury, but this term he’s been a much more prominent figure in a Deportivo side gunning for promotion to La Liga, already making more appearances than he did last term.
If he can stay fit, then there’s no reason why he can’t enjoy a long and fruitful career at the top level on the continent.
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