Charlie Patino’s proposed move to the La Liga shouldn't worry Arsenal fans, as the youngster has shown that he is committed the club with previous actions he has shown in recent years.
According to Spanish news outlet Marca, the 18-year-old is attracting interest from Barcelona ahead of the January transfer window, as they are taking the approach to sign young players.
Patino has been tipped to be the next star to flourish out of the Hale End academy and follow the same paths as Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka, who have excelled in an Arsenal shirt since their breakthrough into the first team.
Despite the interest around Europe for Patino, Arsenal fans can be reassured that he will not be sold as the youngster has previously rejected the top clubs around Europe.
Before signing for the club in 2015, Patino was a part of the Luton Academy and had been playing for the under 13’s despite only being 11 years old.
The Arsenal scout who noticed him spoke to Charles Watts in an interview for Goal and said: “I made a phone call to my head of my department at Arsenal at the time, Sean O’Connor. He asked what I thought and I said, ‘well, I’m not coming back again. I don’t need to see any more, you need to sign this kid straight away.”
However, Arsenal were not the only club interested in signing the youngster, as Manchester City, Chelsea and Spurs were also chasing his signature.
Patino decided to join the Hale End academy, and he has been thriving ever since making that correct decision.
He made his first-team debut against Sunderland in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup and topped it off by scoring a goal, which has only increased the admiration from the fans over the youngster.
The interest in him from Barcelona certainly makes sense, as the 18-year-old is eligible to play on an international level for Spain.
Patino was born in Watford and has grown up in London. This has meant he has featured in youth team games for England making appearances at under-15 and under-16 level.
Despite this, the youngster is still eligible to play for Spain and this is because his father grew up there and supported Deportivo La Coruna. Even his playing style has been compared to that of a typical Spanish midfielder.
Despite the connections to Spain, Patino will not be leaving Arsenal anytime soon, which is a notion that will be supported by the club, as he is certainly going to play a part in the club’s success in the future.
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