Jack Wilshere, Bukayo Saka, and Emile Smith-Rowe are some of the players in recent history to successfully enter Arsenal’s first team from the club’s academy. Charlie Patino is the latest Hale End product knocking on the door. The midfielder is highly-regarded in the Arsenal rings and looks to be set for an extensive run in the first team before long. But who exactly is Patino and why is he sought after by some of the top clubs in the world? We would take a look at one of Arsenal’s most talented young players right now.
Charlie Patino Profile
Born in Watford, Patino began his career at St. Albans City before joining Luton Town at the age of seven. When he turned eleven years old in 2015, he signed for Arsenal for a £10,000 price tag.
Patino rose hastily through the ranks at Arsenal, starring for the under-18 side at the age of only 14. He is regarded as one of Arsenal’s most optimistic youth potentials, with the chief of scouting at Arsenal, Sean O’Connor, describing him as the “best player who has ever walked through the doors at Hale End.” Arsenal scout Brian Stapleton named him “the best kid I’ve ever seen.”
Charlie Patino penned his first professional contract with Arsenal in October 2020. In the same month, he was named in The Guardian’s “Next Generation” 2020 list, as one of the best young players coming out from Premier League clubs’ academies. On 21 December, Patino earned his senior debut for Arsenal in a 5–1 EFL Cup quarter-final victory against Sunderland. He scored the final goal of the game at the end of the second half shortly after replacing fellow academy graduate Emile Smith-Rowe.
International Career
Charlie Patino has represented England at under-15, under-16, and under-17 levels. However, he remains eligible for Spain through his father, and the Spanish FA has reportedly made attempts to get him to switch allegiance. On 9 October 2021, he made his debut for the England U19s during a 3-1 victory against Mexico in Marbella.
Why Barcelona Are Interested In Charlie Patino
In 2021, the young lad was linked to Spanish giants Barcelona. In addition to Spain wanting to get the soccer player to switch allegiance, Barcelona is also monitoring him and is reportedly eager to bring the youngster to Catalonia. The Spanish FA and Barcelona’s hopes may be heightened by the fact that Patino views Spaniards Santi Cazorla, Cesc Fabregas, and Arteta as his footballing idols.
However, the young lad has reasons to stay at Arsenal as he has come through the ranks at Hale End. Looking at the likes of Smith Rowe and Saka, there is now a hugely optimistic batch of young English talent coming through all at once at the club and Patino could be one of them.
With Arteta bold to field the youth players without hesitation, further openings in the first team look likely to come Patino’s way in 2022. Patino scored a stunning debut goal during Arsenal’s Carabao Cup clash with Sunderland, with Arsenal fans ultimately getting to see their extensive calls for the young star answered with an extraordinary debut performance.
Players That Have Left Arsenal For Barcelona In The Past
Over the years, several players have made their way from Arsenal to Camp Nou. Some enjoyed storied careers at Barcelona that are still remembered today but a few others were utter disappointments.
1. Thomas Vermaelen
Thomas Vermaelen made the switch to Barcelona in 2014. The center-back was anticipated to play a significant role and compete for a regular place in the starting lineup. However, the Belgian played 34 games for the Catalan giants and scored only 1 goal before his loan move to Roma in 2017. Currently, he plays for Vissel Kobe in Japan, but the question on everyone’s mind would be, why on earth did he make that career-damaging move? Could it have been for the money or silverware?
2. Emmanuel Petit
Emmanuel Petit was an absolute star during his time at Monaco before making the switch to Arsenal. He spent a few years at the English club and eventually joined Barcelona in 2000.
Despite being a star footballer with an already rich career, Petit was unable to replicate the same success at Camp Nou. He struggled to find his place in the squad and was rarely in the starting lineup. After just one season at Barcelona, it was time for Petit to leave. The French midfielder made his way back to England, joining Arsenal’s London rivals Chelsea.
For Petit, his time at Barcelona will always be seen as a failure and full of thoughts of what could have been.
3. Alexander Hleb
Like Petit, Alex Hleb’s time at Barcelona was full of disappointment as well. The attack-minded player joined Barcelona from Arsenal in 2008 and was foreseen to make an instant influence at Camp Nou. He had the traits of a capable player, but no one foresaw what would take place.
Hleb was incapable of finding regular playing time at the Catalan club and was soon demoted to the bench. He was a part of the treble-winning team of 2008-09, however, he played a minor part in the team’s success. After a few loan spells at other clubs, Hleb finally departed Catalonia in 2012, when he and the club mutually agreed to cancel his contract.
4. Alex Song
After spending several years at Arsenal on the fringes of the first team, Song cemented his place as the rock in the club’s midfield. He quickly became an integral part of Arsenal’s starting 11 but later opted to leave to join the Catalan giants in a €15 million transfer in 2012.
At the time, it was clear that Song would deputize as both a defensive midfielder and center-back with his new club. However, the Cameroon international couldn’t find consistent playing time in the Blaugrana shirt. In his time at Camp Nou, Song was able to put together a few stellar performances. However, the few games he performed well in didn’t counteract his many subpar matches.
5. Marc Overmars
Marc Overmars was already a star at Ajax before moving to Arsenal in 1997. Still, he had a record of injuries but the Gunners took a shot on him that paid off big time. Overmars instantly lit up the English league and scored lots of goals in his time under Arsene Wenger.
In 2000, Overmars and teammate Emmanuel Petit left Arsenal to join Barcelona in what was then seen as a huge move from the Catalans. As remarked earlier, Petit’s career in Catalonia would not pan out as anticipated, but Overmars had a bit more prosperity. The Dutch winger stayed at Barcelona until 2004, despite striving to keep a regular place in the squad. Though he was not a constant face in the starting lineup, Overmars was a fan favorite and the type of player who would give his all on the pitch.
He will always be remembered as one of the quickest players to ever pull on the Blaugrana shirt. However, you can’t help but wonder why his form didn’t appropriately carry over to Spain.
6. Cesc Fabregas
The long-lost son returned home to Barcelona in the summer of 2011 and the world waited to see what splendidness would come from the move. After leaving his boyhood club as a teenager, Fabregas was a genius in England and one of the best Arsenal players of his generation. His mastery in the midfield was without question and his return to Barcelona was seen as a spectacular move.
When Fabregas returned to Catalonia, many speculated he was Xavi’s heir apparent. After a couple of months, it was obvious that that wasn’t the case. He was his player, and a new midfielder was brought in to help the club become even better.
Fabregas had his stint during his three years at Barcelona, earning a couple of titles and scoring in El Clasico. Nevertheless, Cesc seemingly wasn’t the star he had been at Arsenal. He later left to join Chelsea in what many fans were sad that such a talented homegrown player was not able to reproduce his success. Fabregas will always be remembered at Camp Nou, but he could have achieved so much more.
7. Giovanni van Bronckhorst
Giovanni van Bronckhorst is a Barcelona legend. Maturing at his boyhood club Feyenoord, the Dutch defender finally broke into Arsenal’s team via Rangers in 2001. After a few seasons in England, he was loaned to Barcelona in 2003, eventually signing permanently the following year.
When “Gio,” as he was affectionately known, arrived at Barcelona, he was transformed from a central midfielder to a left-back and he flourished. His first two seasons at the Catalan club saw Barcelona win consecutive La Liga titles as well as the 2006 Champions League trophy.
Van Bronckhorst was an idol of the Camp Nou crowd and a regular face in the lineup. His skills saw him become one of the best players in Spain as Barcelona conquered domestic play during his tenure. He was an instrumental player in Barcelona’s 2005–06 UEFA Champions League victory, being in the starting line-up of the final, having played every Champions League match for Barcelona that season.
To this day, Gio is still seen as one of the greatest Barcelona defenders in club history and a legend that brought immense success from the moment he first stepped foot on the Camp Nou pitch.
8. Thierry Henry
Few names thump the same fear, respect, and emotion as that of Thierry Henry. The Frenchman was already contemplated to be one of the greatest Arsenal players of all time when he moved to Barcelona in 2007.
A player of Henry’s pedigree would not let down the Barca fans. He assembled with Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto’o to form without any doubt the most productive attacking trio the Spanish league has ever seen. Though all three were enormously talented individually, their capacity to play together generated Barcelona’s unrivaled success.
Reckoned by many to be the greatest team ever, Henry was a crucial part of the Barcelona side that won a phenomenal six trophies in 2009. After winning so many titles in just a few years at Camp Nou, Henry left for the New York Red Bulls following the 2010 World Cup. He may still be viewed as an Arsenal legend first, but Barcelona fans will never forget the glory that the French striker brought to Camp Nou.
