Arsenal Confirm Brazilian Defender Move

With the summer transfer window in full swing, Football Talk will be keeping you up-to-date with all the latest transfer news throughout the summer. Today, Pedro Botelho has left Arsenal.

Arsenal have confirmed on Arsenal.com that defender Pedro Botelho has returned home to Brazil to join Serie B side Atlético Paranaense on a permanent basis.

Botelho arrived at the Emirates from Brazilian side Figueirense in 2007 with high hopes of becoming the next big Brazilian sensation. Due to work permit issues, he was immediately loaned out to Spanish outfit Salamanca and enjoyed a relatively successful time, making 36 appearances.

The 22-year-old then saw a second spell on loan with Salamanca cut short after a bust up with the manager, so he finished the season with Celta Vigo, making 27 appearances and scoring 1 goal.

In 2009 Arsenal saw a work permit application turned down forcing them to once again send the youngster out on loan, this time to Spanish second division side Cartagena. Further loans spells at Rayo Vallecano and Levante followed but it seems manager Arsene Wenger has finally cut his loses with the attack-minded left back after agreeing to sell him to Atlético Paranaense.

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It’s a sad end to Botelho’s time at Arsenal. He arrived with such promise, but has left without being able to make a first team appearance for the club.

He enjoyed mixed loan spells in Spain. Moments of brilliance were overshadowed by reports of bust ups with managers, late night partying and going AWOL on occasion, so his attitude certainly wouldn’t have been to Wengers liking.

A return home to Brazil is probably best for all parties and he’s likely to be more suited to the Brazilian league, and lifestyle, than the rough-and-tumble of the Premiership anyway.

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