Arsenal could be set back by €8m as instalments for fringe player begin
Arsenal have paid the first instalment of their add-ons for Pablo Mari after details of the deal were confirmed.
Mari joined Arsenal on loan from Brazilian side Flamengo in January 2020. The deal was made permanent by the end of the season, costing them a further €5m on top of the initial €8m fee. But their payments have not finished there.
As Lance have noted, Flamengo have already received an additional €1m for Mari. That’s because there is an agreement in the deal for Arsenal to pay that sum every time he makes 10 appearances for them.
So far, Mari has made 14 appearances for Arsenal this season. Therefore, he has passed the first milestone needed for the Gunners to send more money to Brazil.
The agreement will continue for a number of years, as it counts for eight multiples of 10. Hence, if Mari reaches 80 appearances for Arsenal, they will have paid an extra €8m to Flamengo.
That will be a significant windfall for the Brazilian club, who will benefit from those funds. In comparison, it isn’t too large an investment for Arsenal, even though Mari remains a bit-part player.
All nine of his appearances in the Premier League this term have been starts, though. He has been given more faith recently, with all those games coming since Christmas.
Hence, if he continues to be entrusted with more minutes by Mikel Arteta, Arsenal may have to fork out more money.
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Arsenal eye midfielder deal
Meanwhile, in front of the defence, there have been claims that Arsenal are eyeing Real Betis midfielder Guido Rodriguez.
The Gunners have been linked with a summer swoop for the defensive midfielder who is valued at around €80m. That figure would represent a huge profit for Betis, who signed the 27-year-old for just €3m in January 2020.
The Spanish club’s ‘delicate financial situation’ has been cited as the reason why he may well be sold.
It is thought that Betis will not accept anything less than €50m for the midfield enforcer. That reduced figure might also tempt Liverpool, who have been linked in recent months.
But Estadio Deportivo have suggested that ‘everything indicates’ Arsenal will firm up their interest at some stage.
READ MORE: Arsene Wenger drops Arsenal truth bomb after questioning qualities
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