Arsenal midfielder Charlie Patino was once the brightest talent in the Hale End Academy, but he is now set to depart.
Patino spent the last two seasons out on loan at Championship sides Blackpool and Swansea City, but whilst he did impress at times, he did not do enough to earn a first-team place at Arsenal.
The 20-year-old made two first-team appearances under Mikel Arteta, and scored on his senior debut in the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Sunderland in 2021.
With one year remaining on his contract, the Englishman will now leave, but many are surprised at his destination.
Patino will now join Spanish Second Division side Deportivo La Coruna, where he will link up with former Arsenal striker Lucas Perez, who is a club legend at Riazor, but he also has another motivation.
Charlie Patino’s childhood link to Deportivo La Coruna ahead of Arsenal exit
Although Patino has been at Arsenal for nearly a decade, the Gunners signed him as an 11-year-old from Luton Town, and he had a season ticket at the Championship side.
However, Patino’s family club is Deportivo La Coruna. He was born to Spanish parents who moved to England long before he was born, and his father is a lifelong fan of the Galicia-based side.
Patino even watched Deportivo matches at Galician restaurant chain Centro Gallego, who have a branch in London, where he was able to connect with his family roots.
As a result, Patino has a lifelong affection for Spanish football, which greatly influenced his playing style.
“Charlie doesn’t watch the Spanish football, he analyses it. His mind is ticking away, watching the player movements and asking why they made certain decisions,” Patino’s father Julio stated when he was 11.
“He is very intelligent. He would say his favourite team is Barcelona and he has definitely been influenced as a player by the Spanish style of football.”
Charlie Patino aiming for fresh start at Deportivo La Coruna
Depor are now in the Segunda Division of Spanish football, having earned promotion last season as champions of the third tier.
They have suffered in recent years after a financial collapse, and have not played in the top flight since 2018, when they were relegated from La Liga, before they dropped again two years later, and then avoided relegation to the fourth tier by one point.
They are now back on the right track as they aim to return to La Liga, and Patino can make himself a hero at his family club if he helps them achieve promotion. His signing is something of a coup, given that he may have also attracted interest from other English sides given his low price.
Deportivo reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2004, and historically have tasted success as they won La Liga in 2000. Patino will now be on a journey to rediscover his own form and reach his potential, whilst restoring former glories to a club which has had a difficult few years.
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