Arsenal have had their first transfer of the summer confirmed as Pablo Mari’s move to Monza was made permanent after they secured survival in Serie A.
The Spaniard left north London on loan in the summer after two years with the club, and despite a threat to his life after being stabbed in a shopping centre in October, he has been a regular for the small Italian club.
This season, he has appeared 25 times in the heart of their back three, popping up with a goal too.
Though initially only a loan move, there was a clause written into the contract that would see Monza forced to stump up £5.9m to make the move permanent should they avoid relegation in their first season back in Italy’s top flight.
And on Sunday, their survival was confirmed, courtesy of a 2-0 win over Spezia that means, with Monza now 17 points clear of the relegation zone with just six games left of the season and unable to be relegated.
Ciak si gira 🎬 buona la primA!
Monza in @SerieA anche nella stagione 23/24, grazie ragazzi ⚪️🔴#ACMonza #Monza #SerieATIM pic.twitter.com/G1ePaRxfrS
— AC Monza (@ACMonza) April 30, 2023
The move makes Mari their second most-expensive signing ever, and will help Arsenal continue to trim their squad, with the club having employed similar moves with both Konstantinos Mavropanos last season and Bernd Leno this campaign.
Currently second in the Premier League, Mikel Arteta’s side are expected to recruit heavily in midfield, with both Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice top of their shopping list, while they are also on the hunt for another right-sided defender following injuries to Takehiro Tomiyasu and William Saliba which derailed their title charge this season.
