Arsenal 'poach scout Paulo Xavier from Real Madrid'

Highly-rated scout Paulo Xavier has left his role at Real Madrid to join Arsenal, according to a report.

Xavier has conducted business for Los Blancos since September 2017, during which time the capital giants have won another two Champions League crowns and two La Liga titles.

Xavier worked in Real Madrid's Latin America division, but according to The Athletic, he has now called time on his Blancos career to take on a new challenge with Arsenal.

The report claims that Xavier has already started his work with the Gunners and will be based in South America with another pair of scouts as he reunites with former colleague Edu.

The pair worked together at the Brazilian Football Confederation between 2015 and 2017, during which time Edu - one of the Arsenal Invincibles - was his nation's general coordinator.

Edu left his Selecao role in 2019 to become Arsenal's technical director before being promoted to the position of sporting director in 2022, and the 45-year-old was key in bringing Xavier to North London.

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Xavier also enjoyed a brief stint with Manchester United just before joining Real Madrid, and his arrival will assist Arsenal's efforts to bring in more top talent from South America.

The Gunners have made a pair of notable signings from Brazil over the past couple of years, firstly poaching a then-18-year-old Gabriel Martinelli from Ituano in 2019 for just £6m.

The winger has proven to be an astute acquisition for Arsenal, already making 150 appearances in all competitions and registering 37 goals and 22 assists for Mikel Arteta's side, as well as representing Brazil at the 2022 World Cup.

In the summer of 2022, Arsenal once again utilised their South American connections to sign another Brazilian winger in Marquinhos, who scored and assisted on his debut in a 2-1 Europa League win over FC Zurich.

The 20-year-old has failed to kick on since that dream debut, though, spending the second half of the 2022-23 season on loan with Norwich City before joining Ligue 1 side Nantes on a temporary basis for the 2023-24 campaign.

Arsenal hold a one-point lead over Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table before they head to Anfield to face the Reds in Saturday's mouthwatering contest.