Juventus scouted Arsenal loanee who plays ‘lovely football’ in goalscoring FA Cup win

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Juventus had scouts watch Arsenal prospect Charlie Patino in action as Swansea City beat Morecambe in the FA Cup last weekend as the Serie A giants target his transfer.

The 20-year-old helped the Jacks to a 2-0 win at home to the Shrimps with the opening goal last Saturday. Patino broke the deadlock in the 47th minute during his 21st appearance with Swansea so far. Arsenal loaned the midfielder to the Jacks on a season-long deal in August.

Patino put Swansea ahead straight out of half-time with a cute finish under the crossbar. He drifted into Morecambe’s area as Jerry Yates brought their attack in-field. Shrimps defenders then desperately pleaded for an offside flag as Patino tapped Yates’ floated ball into the net.

Juventus scouted Arsenal gem Patino in Swansea’s FA Cup win

Putting Swansea ahead yielded Patino’s fourth goal of the season so far since joining on loan from Arsenal. It was also his first effort outside of a Championship fixture after scoring three and assisting four in 20 second-tier fixtures. But it came under the eyes of Juventus’ scouts.

That is according to transfer expert Michele Fratini, who TuttoJuve has quoted noting on Rai Sport that Juventus sent scouts to Swansea’s FA Cup win over Morecambe to watch Arsenal loanee Patino. The Bianconeri are huge fans of the midfielder and intend to target a transfer.

Fratini adds that Juventus ‘badly’ want to sign Patino to add a 20-year-old rising star to their squad. The Turin natives will likely look to test Arsenal’s resolve this year, as well, with Patino only under contract to 2024. He has been at the Gunners since quitting Luton Town in 2015.

Patino proved he provides more than just ‘lovely football’

Patino joined Arsenal’s academy and rose to register two first-team appearances before loan spells for Blackpool in 2022/23 and now Swansea, where his efforts are gaining interest from Juventus in a transfer. Patino is also showing he adds more than just pretty football in Wales.

“I said to Charlie that he needs to be in certain positions,” Swansea boss Luke Williams said after the Morecambe game, via Wales Online. “He’s an attacking midfield player. He has to try and score, [to] try and create and score goals.

“He can’t just play in the middle of the pitch and play really lovely football. In the final third, an attacking midfield player is a killer. At half-time, we reminded him in a really clear way and made the action to go and win the game.

“The longer it goes on without scoring a goal, you’re more vulnerable. So, he made exactly the action I wanted him to make and scored the goal. That puts us in a different position.”