Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move for Villarreal forward Yeremy Pino with the Spanish starlet admitting he models himself on Manchester United icon Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Gunners have been one of the busiest Premier League clubs this summer, signing five new players and seeing seven players leave the club either on-loan or permanently. Mikel Arteta has openly admitted that the club are trying to secure more signings before the transfer window closes, with a central midfielder and winger thought to be on the agenda.
football.london understands Arsenal are prepared to wait until Youri Tielemans’ current contract expires next year to secure the Belgian on a free transfer. Both Nicolas Pepe and Reiss Nelson are facing uncertain futures in north London and a move for Pino may be the perfect addition to Arteta's attacking options.
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Premier League rivals Liverpool are also interested in signing the Spanish starlet, meaning Arsenal would need to move quickly to secure a deal this summer. Pino's talent speaks for itself, but it's his attitude and commitment to be the best that will see him reach the top of the game, after he revealed he uses five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo as a 'point of reference' for everything.
Speaking ahead of Villarreal's clash against Juventus in the Champions League last term, Pino said: "He [Ronaldo] won me over with his mentality and sacrifice. A player who might not be a pure talent, but who, based on work, perseverance and effort, gets to where he wants to.
"He comes from Madeira, an island like Gran Canaria, and looking at him, I also recognised myself in emigration, suffering, difficulties. For me, he was a point of reference for everything.
"Today, the thing that strikes me most about him is his intact ambition: he is 37 and continues to fight and work harder than anyone to keep winning. An example, I know that there are people who say that he affects the way a team plays. I reply that he is still one of the few able to carry that team on his shoulders and win a game alone."
A move for Pino will not come on cheap, with any interested club expected to pay the 19-year-old's £67.5million release clause. This could eventually become a bargain should Pino follow in his idol's footsteps and become one of the greatest to play the game.
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