Following his first season with Arsenal, Gabriel Magalhães is now concentrated with Brazil’s U-23 team which will play a couple of friendlies this month.
The Gunners’ defender is expecting to impress manager André Jardine and get a place in the squad, which will be featuring in the Olympics later this year.
Magalhães was interviewed today by Globo Esporte on Wednesday, and said it’d be a ‘dream’ to be featuring for the national team in Tokyo.
“A dream. That’s the word to describe this possibility. Representing the green and yellow shirt is always a source of pride and pleasure”, Gabriel Magalhães told Globo Esporte.
“Without a doubt it’s a dream and also a goal. The generation that won in 2016 will be remembered forever. I hope to be able to write my name in history too.”
However, the Olympics will not be played during an international break, and that means Brazil would need permission from Arsenal to have Magalhães in the squad.
The player, though, claims to be hopeful that the Gunners will allow him to go.
“I believe that at the right time and in case of a call-up, CBF and Arsenal will talk and reach an agreement. At the moment I want to keep my head centred on these friendlies and preparation to guarantee a place in the Olympics.”
Signed on a €26m deal from Lille last summer, Gabriel Magalhães was one of Mikel Arteta’s most frequent choices for the Gunners’ defence, having made 32 appearances and even scoring three goals.
He also told Globo Esporte it was a ‘spectacular’ season for him in individual terms, even though the club couldn’t have a great campaign.
