Arsenal ‘recruit highly-regarded Real Madrid scout Paulo Xavier’ as they look to unearth gems in South America to boost Mikel Arteta’s squad
- Xavier previously worked with Arsenal's sporting director Edu in Brazil
- He will cover South America for the Gunners along with two other scouts
- Mikel Arteta booked again, other bosses got yellow. If you want to eradicate these evils, KEEP DOING IT, REFS! Listen to It all starts
Arsenal have reportedly pulled off an off-field coup after leading scout Paulo Xavier left Real Madrid to join their recruitment team.
Xavier has worked as a Latin American scout for the Spanish giants since September 2017.
In his new role at Arsenal, which has already started, he will cover South America together with two other scouts. The Athletics reported.
Xavier was a valued member of chief scout Juni Calafat's network at Real Madrid.
He previously worked with Arsenal sporting director Edu at the Brazilian Football Association between 2015 and 2017, and also briefly worked for Manchester United in 2017 before joining Real.
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have signed a highly-rated scout from Real Madrid
Scout Paulo Xavier worked with Arsenal technical director Edu (photo) in Brazil
Xavier hopes Xavier can unearth more South American gems like Gabriel Martinelli
Arsenal will be hoping to build on recent signings from Brazilian clubs such as Gabriel Martinelli, who was signed from Iguana in 2019, and Marquinhos, who joined from Sao Paulo in 2022 and is now on loan at Nantes.
The Gunners have been linked with Real Madrid-bound wonderkid Endrick and Corinthians midfielder Gabriel Moscardo.
It comes as Mikel Arteta's side sit top of the Premier League after their 2-0 win over Brighton on Sunday, dropping points against title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.
After a collapse in the second half of last season that allowed City to win the league, Arsenal will be determined to stay the course this time around.
They reached the last sixteen of the Champions League together with Porto.
