One former Arsenal player has a lot to thank inbound scout Maurizio Micheli for, as the Italian advances in talks with the Gunners.
Andrea Berta is eager to bring Micheli to Arsenal after seeing the head scout earn the headlines in Naples over the years.
Micheli has had an incredible impact on European football as we know it today, unearthing some of the biggest talents from far lesser-known spaces.
One example was Micheli’s identification of Napoli legend Marek Hamsik, along with others such as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Kalidou Koulibaly.
Jorginho will be so thankful for Micheli’s scouting of Kalidou Koulibaly
Arsenal wanted to sign Kvaratskhelia in 2023 following the winger’s tremendous rise at Napoli, playing a crucial role in the Italian club winning Serie A.
It’s not only Kvaratskhelia who links Micheli’s past work to Arsenal, as one former Gunner is a huge admirer of Koulibaly.
Jorginho shared the pitch with Koulibaly 129 times during the duo’s time at Napoli and then Chelsea, prompting the Italian to speak incredibly highly of his colleague.
Speaking to reporters in July 2022, Jorginho, who left Arsenal in the summer, admitted that he was desperate to reunite with the centre-back at Chelsea.
“I said ‘just come’ because it has been a long time since we played together and shared a changing room or be together again.”
Jorginho then explained why he was so eager to share the pitch with Koulibaly again, painting a picture of the calibre of player Micheli scouted.
“He is an experienced player, not just on the pitch. You will see he is a brilliant defender, strong, fast.
“He plays on the ball. But as a guy, a person in the changing room, he is just amazing. He is such a nice guy and brings a lot to this club.”
Micheli was the mastermind behind putting Koulibaly’s rise under the spotlight, which, in turn, delivered Jorginho one of his favourite-ever teammates.
Maurizio Micheli’s role in signing Koulibaly at Napoli
The career that Koulibaly has gone on to have highlights the level of talent Micheli has an eye for.
Napoli signed the Senegalese defender from Genk in 2014, and the player’s former agent, Bruno Satin, confirmed the transfer was thanks to Micheli.
In a 2021 interview with Italian radio channel KissKiss, as transcribed by Area Napoli, Satin explained Micheli’s role in the centre-back’s big move.
“The first person to spot the defender was Maurizio Micheli: he was the first to point him out to Napoli,” Satin said, then revealing that Napoli signed his client for just €8m.
Koulibaly went on to have a career-high market value of €75m, as per Transfermarkt, emphasising the incredible work Micheli did to recognise his talent in the first place.
The Italian scout’s pending hire is an extremely exciting coup for the Gunners, who could benefit tremendously from his presence, just as Napoli did.
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