Valencian Footballer Shines in Brazil and Highbury

Pablo Marí Villar was a central defender for Brazilian club Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, who was named as one of the top eleven players in the Brazilian league.

In February 2020 however, he signed for Premier League club Arsenal.

He was born in Almussafes, where Ford has its production plant, and was a product of RCD Mallorca’s youth system. He made his debut with the reserves at the age of 17, going on to spend several seasons in the third division.

But greater glory awaited him.

He made his first appearance with the first team on 7 December 2011, playing 30 minutes in a 2–2 draw against Granada CF and then in 5 May 2012 he played his second game, again acting as a substitute in a 1–0 home win over Levante UD.

Later, in 2011, he moved to the Catalan team Gimnàstic of Tarragona, making his debut for on 12th October, but conceding a penalty in a 2–2 draw at CD Olímpic de Xàtiva.

He scored his first goal for Nàstic on 1 December 2013, the winner in a 2–1 home victory against Valencian team Levante UD B, and later signed a three-year contract with the club.

In August 2016, Marí was transferred to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, but the next day, he was loaned to Girona FC.

Instead, he played with Dutch team NAC Breda and was team captain, and then Deportivo de La Coruña.

On 11 July 2019 his big opportunity arrived and Marí signed for Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, debuting 28 July in a Série A match against Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas, a 3–2 win.

The same year Marí became the first Spanish player to win the Copa Libertadores, and won his place as one of the Brazilian league’s top eleven.