One of Britain’s few respected football journalists, Gabriele Marcotti, has claimed that Fiorentia’s Felipe Melo is on his way to Arsenal. Speaking to sports radio station talkSPORT last night, Marcotti tipped Brazil midfielder Melo to join the Gunners at the conclusion of the Confederations Cup.
Melo joined La Viola a year ago in a €13m deal from Spanish outfit Almeria and has thoroughly impressed all in his first season in Italy, even forcing himself into Brazil’s starting side. The 25-year-old had previously been touted to join Inter Milan, but has been linked with a move to the Emirates in recent weeks. Melo reiterated his desire to stay at Fiorentina on Sunday, stating:
“It’s clear that interest from big clubs makes me happy because it shows I have worked well, but I would like to once again confirm that I am very well in Florence and have a great relationship with my teammates, the club and the fans.”
It seems though, that a move to Arsenal was too good to turn down for Melo. According to the ever-reliable Marcotti, the deal will not be finalised until the conclusion of Brazil’s Confederations Cup campaign. Melo’s agent, though, has been in heavy communication with Arsenal and is happy with the contract Arsenal have put on the table.
Marcotti then continued, stating that Fiorentina are also keen to open negotiations for Arsenal-owned defender Philippe Senderos. He claimed that Senderos has enjoyed his time in Serie A and would jump a the chance of joining Fiorentina. Marcotti did however make it clear that the deals for Senderos and Melo are completely seperate, although one would think that a smooth deal for Melo would do no harm to Senderos’ chances of joining Fiorentina.
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Nice!! If this is true we will certainly challenge for the title.
My hopes are officially up, let us hope he does arrive!
I woudln’t get too excited just yet. The amount of times I heard Gabriele Marcotti say that Vieira was going to Real Madrid 100% only for it not to happen not to mention all the times that Henry was going to leave.
He looks a good player and only time will tell.
That`s great news, really hope its true. Have you got any quotes.
Marcotti is as full of shit as any tabloid hack. This may or may not happen, but let’s not pretend these quotes really mean anything…
I would still prefer Gokhan Inler to be honest. Or even M Diarra from Real Madrid. However i woudn’t be dissapointed to see Melo arrive.
Mean Lean, Anonymarse, I respectfully disagree.
Marcotti has been off the mark in the past but I truly believe that he is one of the few British football journos that possesses some sort of journalistic integrity. He isn’t one to spout rubbish for the sake of it.
When it comes to matters concerning Italian football, I cannot think of anyone in the English-speaking press that has their finger on the pulse like Marcotti. I’d trust him with this one.
I’m not saying to take Marcotti’s word as gospel, but his claims certainly wouldn’t be unfounded.
I would get excited but there are two major things in this story which shout that its utter crap – marcotti & talksxxxe radio – very bad combination!
“I woudln’t get too excited just yet. The amount of times I heard Gabriele Marcotti say that Vieira was going to Real Madrid 100% only for it not to happen not to mention all the times that Henry was going to leave.”
I think you’re thinking of Guilem Balague?
Marcotti is generally a bit more reliable and he doesn’t typically spout transfer rumours for the sake of it. He has more integrity than most football journalists. This is definitely not gospel, but it is promising though.
Perhaps it will happen but Marcotti has a poor track record of predictions for me. He just re-cycles a load of rumour really. The papers have been pointing to this one for weeks so Marcotti’s chubby predictions are hardly new.
Marcotti a resepcted football journalist? That must be a wind up, all he does is regurgitate the rubbish pedalled by the Italian rags. He’s on about the same level as Gullem Balague who just recycles all the Marca, AS & Sport garbage.
That said, I hope it’s true. Melo is just what we need
I think Inter will take him
jurno and respect in the same breath i think not…99.9 of all hacks hate The Arsenal and write nothing but crap to undermine the club and its fans.Arsenal appear daily in the media always with a negative spin but not so chelski usaunited or ameripool,so why i or any other gooner should note what the media say is beyond me.Arsenal .com is the answer
He hasn’t got any idea. The wheezing toad.
Can’t get my head around the Marcotti hate.
His opinions are out there and I find myself disagreeing with them more often than not (he tries too hard to be different, sometimes), but when he is actually reporting the news, more often than not, he’s on the mark.
Did you guys hear the interview?
EXCELLENT, MELO in the arsenal midfield we can give denilson to adapt!
journis get wind of things that are about to happen but dont know the outcome cos untill the clubs and the players finish their negotiations no one can know unless u are sitting the room as the negotiations are happening.
marcotti talks more sense then most journs but he is just as rone as most to getting things wrong as untill clubs and players finish no one knows.
all clubs are watching players all over the world just cos u watch a player it does not mean u will buy him.
we know the wenger has a player watched as much as possible before making a decision.
we ae not a spuds or pool who constantly keep having traffic of players in and out every season.
to get balance the majority of a squad should stay together,
also all this ade hate out here are people mad? ade is one the best strikers in the world and the fact that teams like milan and chavs have been linked should say something.
lay off him and no way should he be sold if we are going to challenge on all fronts next season.
most arsenal fans are bozos and take their lead from watch glimpses they have seen of players in matches or a bit of youtube or the tabloids after that they think they are experts on who wenger should sign. they know nothing of existing contracts if the player has any off the field probs (aka pennent ) or long standing injuries.
so give it a rest with all the player picks and then deriding our manager cos he does not sign all the players in the world.
our team is a young team and needs encouragment not booing.
ARSENE KNOWS!!!
this could happen,yessssssss!
You talk sense, thenry2468.
he’s very good.Thats the kind of presence u need to shield Cesc.Let’s hope wenger spend the cash this time around.
Melo would be a good purchase. i think we would not only challenge for the title next season but we will win it. if it wasn’t for many hopeless draws last season we had won it with our unpredictable team.
I hope this transfer happens. We will never win anything with Dennilson or Song in midfield – both are not good enough! They were both definite weeknesses last season along with our terrible CB problems. Just need another top quality CB to play alongside our new transfer from Ajax. Toure,Gallas and definitely Silvestre can then be transferred out.
At the end of the day, we gooners can get exited about potential signings but as a few have pointed out, arsenal.com are the official news breakers. Anyway its goodto hear speculation all though it gets tedious, Look on the bright side arsenal will be back in pre season soon. Lol. Too long a break from football and next minute we are linked with 50 players. Crazy. But thats the off season for you. Keep the faith gooners, im sure we may have a few surprises coming our way.
Meh, just another journalist as far as I’m concerned.
whatever!!!!!!!!!
I will pray, that Melo joins Arsenal. Please God make it happen . :)
“Did you guys hear the interview?”
Did you?
For DM and Cesc’s Backup I think that Melo is ideal player! Yaya is good too,but Melo is better…so boss, make it happen! that’s how Cesc will have more creative freedom and we’ll score more goals.
Thanks for the info Aidan.
Never seen him play. Heard lots banging on about him. Viola came 4th this season apparently due to good defence. Not sure about him though, would rather have a more established name.
This is the one signing all summer that I wish would happen. Scrap everything else but bring Melo to the Arsenal. i don’t care how, who, what, or where just when….THIS BLOODY SUMMER! Get the man WENGER! We’ve been waiting for a MAN to step into the midfield and enforce. Put his foot into the game and opponents and with Felipe Melo we will finally have the key to unlocking our destiney’s and bare trophy cabinets. Our attacking options are assured, our defense is all but healed (one more class defender might due but with Song/Djourou waiting to pounce maybe another CB signing is unnecessary). And our midfield is only lacking a true class CDM. (Wingers ar taken care of throught Nasri, Walcott, Rosicky, Vela and Arshavin and even possibly RVP.) So Arsene please buy this man…he will save us a shit load of grief this coming season. And he’ll save you from starting a fire from rubbing ur hands all game long.
He’s the man we need Arsene!
gooner4lyf
dude ! today is my birtday !
didn’t know much about melo till he’s been sprayed on news media… but the thing i like about melo is the reported number of red and yellow he got; at least he’s trying to intercept i suppose … still recall the same sort of card situation with viera… love it
You guys better watch the Confederations cup final coz it will be Fab’s Spain vs Melo’s Brazil. then we will see how good he really is, if he can keep Fab out of the game, sign him.
How can people compare Gabrielle Marcotti and Guilliem Ballague.
GB is not a good jorno he just finds out the minimal information and conveys it to the public straight away. For example he will not know all the teams after one player so he might mention just one team where the player joins another. Doesnt mean that he was wrong he just states that one club are after a player which is kinda true. SO I THINK HE IS NOT THAT GOOD.
Whenn Marcotti speaks he gives details. For example he will give the stage of negotiations a club is at, and is in puls with more of the players thoughts. Also about the Viera thing with Real Madrid it was sooo Close that it was almost a done deal.
He was in madrid and ready to sign, but at the last minuite he pulled out because of real madrids trying to negotiate the wage down. MARCOTTI IS A GOOD JOURNALIST.
I agree with str8goon.
We are very much covered in terms of wings but in central midfield we lack something. As for Melo, well, Fiorentina did manage to qualify for the Champions League but with all due respect to the Viola, Arsenal is a better club. Also, the Serie A lost some important players this summer, starting from Kaka.
It’s a very good news for gunners! Of course,if it’s true.
can anybody tell me when they say we can never win anything with denilson and song in the midfield if we won anything with flamini or even gilberto in his last years? cause i have been wondering if they have been our mainstay for the last 4 years. umm! i wonder!!
i really hope that melo joins arsenal, he will be the replacement weve been longing for for the last 2 seasons, hes quick, got great vision and his passing of near enough the same quality as cescs, with two players paired in midfield, with one attacking and the other defensive minded that for me is the greatest pairing to have. along with the hopeful signing of sakho to pair with vermaelen or toure our defence would be very very solid. Really consisting of 5 very stable players, which is what weve laked massively.
clichy…sakho…toure…sagna is unarguable followed up by a midfield of
arshavin….melo….cesc….walcott.
this for me is definitely a team which holds massive potential and will definitely be contesting evry cup next season.
hahah i hope melo joinss ive heard good things about this guy. he was tipped giberto silva and this marctti guy. so lets just hpee!
sorry, i think this not a rumor.melo is a good player but are this players the kind of player we need at this moment in time. please lets do something fast to help this team. i particularly, am hungry for trophy if a club like arsenal that plays beautiful football cannot win any trophy they should go back to the drawing board and think of what to do rather than thinking of midfielder why we have plenty of them.