Real Madrid scout Paulo Xavier has joined Arsenal after six years of being their Latin America scout, according to The Athletic. Madrid chief scout Juni Calafat rates Xavier highly as he was a key member of his scouting team in South America, helping them identify the likes of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Endrick. Arsenal are now hoping to count on his expertise as they look to further recruit hidden gems from Latin America, and he has started working with them.
Xavier will work in South America with two other scouts and he knows exactly what the Gunners want having once worked with Manchester United before joining Madrid. He also worked with Arsenal sporting director Edu at the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) between 2015 and 2017, with the Gunners chief responsible for the appointment. Arsenal recruited the services of Gabriel Martinelli from Ituano in 2019 and Marquinhos from Sao Paulo in 2022, and the former has established himself as a key player for the North London club against all odds.
The Gunners will be keen to sign more players from South America given the continent’s history of producing talents and potential superstars. Signing players from Europe come with plenty of demands and huge transfer feeds, and the Latin American market remains popular for its hidden gems mostly available for cheap.