Last summer the signing of Brazilian Pedro Botelho passed by almost unnoticed, as the club continued the trend shown with Carlos Vela by not announcing the transfer, as he was sent to Spanish link club UD Salamanca on loan.
However Salamanca did announce the deal and the player has his own profile on the clubs official website, in which is stated that he is on loan from Arsenal. Despite media speculation during last week that he will be returning this summer, as Young Guns confirmed last month Pedro will be spending next season also on loan with the Segunda side. Meaning the club do not have to go to FIFA or the Government to gain a work permit required to ply his trade in England, as he will gain European status next year allowing the simple switch to North London.
After not being able to play until December, due to FIFA rules on Brazilian players not being able to play in Europe until they are 18, Pedro has had a mixed time with injuries and substitute appearances. However when given the chance to play, he has shown some superb skills and the early signs are that he will be an awesome prospect.
Arsenal have shown how much they value the player, by sending English language professor Peter Murphy to teach Botelho English allowing his return to London to run smoothly. But when he finally arrives next summer, where will he play for Arsenal?.
He had featured mainly as a left winger for Figueirense, his 189cm frame allowing him the ability to win headers, as well as use his impressive ball control and tricks to outwit opponents. But for Salamanca it seems his long term future lies as a left back.
Whilst his defensive skills need some polishing, and he posses lethal attacking flair, his physical attributes mean he has been pushed to left full back. With Armand Traore being converted to a winger it seems natural that Pedro will become back up to current number one Gael Clichy. Next season should be a massive year for the player, as he will become a regular and get a full season with Salamanca, so we can see what he is all about.
You can read more about his skills, as well as see a short video of Pedro in action Here
Article By – J.Sanderson
dont players in this situation have to spend three years in spain, before coming back to us??
Nope, its only two years. You have to be resident in the country for two full years
Surely if this kid is that good he should be playing in Primera Liga not Segunda?
Can you compare his style of play to a current player that I might know?
Cheers
Very difficult, somebody mentioned he is like a giant Roberto Carlos. Its so difficult because nobody has such a giant frame for a full back.
He runs in a similar way to Robert Pires, but more defensive.
Salamanca are our link club, doesnt matter which league they are in, we have an agreement to loan them players
Another exciting player. He must have something special with him if Wenger were to sign him. He seems to be the same height as Ronaldo (6’2″) and is hopefully as dominant in the air as the United player is. It is fun to have new players coming in this way. This summer we get Vela and the next one Pedro. If we buy somebody this summer we might get him the year after that.
Exactly stone, we have a right to send them a player every season, so its almost 100% we will this term.
So we will sign at least one wonderkid on top of what ever business we do.
Portugal U19 play today in the EURO, if i’m right, will Rui Fonte be playing? he hasn’t impressed me in reserve team football this year but im ready to be persuaded!
I think it is too early to predict where he will play for us, but that will be known in 1-2 years, after his new loan spell with Salamanca finishes and he proves him self there I expect him to continue his education in Ossasuna, then come back to Arsenal a more complete player.
Anyway maybe a great player in the making, although it means Wenger will have to sell and release several players form the first team and reserves to open up more spots to welcome him in.
We will get more cash from such deals, as we will keep the better players and sell the others that have also got valuable experience and price tag in the process.
I’m curious to whats the special thing that Wenger saw in him.
Bob. I have never heard of Fonte being called up for the U-19. Arsenal.com usually announces it, at least when Barazite plays. I might be wrong but I haven’t heard of it.
Do you know anything about the Toulon tournament for U-21 national teams? I saw it will be shown on the TV here in USA so I was excited if some Arsenal players were playing. France and the Netherlands will be playing so Diaby, Traore and Barazite should all be a possibility.
Plus Italy, so Mannone could feature.
Youre probably right. but it doesn’t say much for his chances at arsenal. Maybe i’m being a little harsh, he’s actually older than Barazite.
Toulon festival is Under 21 players,
read more about it here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toulon_Tournament
Jamie, I just read you are 17 – amazing – Arsenal really do monopolise the young talent nowadays……Perhaps it helps you avoid the ranting from the Grumpy Old Men on other blogs – and do keep the focus on the other youngsters, most of the other blogs rehash the same old stuff, but i dont think i have read anything on Botelho anywhere else.
Partially correct. While its true Ibero-American (in this case a Brazilian) only need two years of residency, unfortunately Spain is known for their bureaucracy especially in citizenship issue even with open border policy. Two years of residency (begins right after the starting date of the working visa), it gonna take at least a year and a half (normally in my experience, took about 2-3 years after the eligible period) before the citizenship can be apply.
So, you won’t be seeing Pedro for a good 2-3 years, unless Arsene manage to apply for a Special Talent permit.
A least a year an half? at the end of the next season he will have more than completed that.
So we can use that along with the fore mentioned Special Talent visa should be enough to get him in.
I forget to add the + symbol after the two years of residency. My bad, should have posted properly, slightly in hurry. In a simple term, 2 + 1 1/2 = 3 1/2 years years of residency. We have one of the highest number of immigrant of any EU nations, plus the beaucracy, and not to mention the tax law for the new citizens. It gonna take a long time, Barcelona has applied for Dos Santos citizenship since 2005 (after 3 years at Spain), and only to be completed in 2007. Its a taxing and slow process, the class, the paperwork, and will be completed after vow in front of Spanish flag and Constitution.
So, i won’t expect Pedro to come back (like i say, unless Arsene decided to apply for a Special Talent permit) before 2010. Even Vela will only gain EU passport somewhere around next year.
Left back/winger? I’ve been thinking for the last year he was a centre back! I was sure that’s whhat it said in the press when we got him.
Did I imagine it, or is it time to lay of the drugs???
Hope he does well next season but ill reserve judgment until then, he no doubt has the potential, all he has to do is show that he can convert that onto the pitch in firm team matches. Time is still on his side though and lack back is a position we could use a good player in now Traore has shifted to the wing, even if he ends up a winger that’ll at least mean we have two left winers capable of also covering the left back positions.
“Did I imagine it, or is it time to lay of the drugs???”
Probably yes to both, but hell you only live once.
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brillant site just brillant
Thanks for all your efforts, this is a really enjoyable site to visit and read.
great site. Your efforts at providing information about the future of arsenal is invaluable. thank you
I don’t know how you do it, but you consistently come up with fresh and interesting angles on our club. Good on yer mate.
As far as Botelho goes, Corluka has shown it IS possible to succeed as a giant fullback, but I wouldn’t be surprised if AW did another of his great repositioning jobs on his players. He’ll probably end up in goal.
I like the plan of fitting him in.
Lloneza I understand what you are saying about the work permit but I imagine that things may be a little faster for the wealthy world of football!
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