Arsenal 'recruit highly-regarded Real Madrid scout Paulo Xavier' as they look to unearth gems in South America to boost Mikel Arteta's squad

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Xavier previously worked alongside Arsenal's sporting director Edu in Brazil
He will cover South America for the Gunners alongside two other scouts
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By Adam Shergold for MailOnline

Published: 06:53 GMT, 19 December 2023 | Updated: 06:54 GMT, 19 December 2023

Arsenal have reportedly achieved an off-field coup after leading scout Paulo Xavier left Real Madrid to join their recruitment team.

Xavier had worked as Latin American scout for the Spanish giants since September 2017.

His new role at Arsenal, which has already started, will see him cover South America with two other scouts, The Athletic reported.

Xavier was a well-regarded member of chief scout Juni Calafat’s network at Real Madrid.

He had previously worked alongside Arsenal sporting director Edu at the Brazilian Football Confederation between 2015 and 2017, also working briefly for Manchester United in 2017 before going to Real.

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have recruited a highly-regarded scout from Real Madrid

Scout Paulo Xavier worked alongside Arsenal technical director Edu (pictured) in Brazil

Xavier will hope Xavier can unearth more South American gems like Gabriel Martinelli

Arsenal will hope to build on recent signings from Brazilian clubs such as Gabriel Martinelli, signed from Iguana in 2019, and Marquinhos, who joined from Sao Paulo in 2022 and is now on loan at Nantes.

The Gunners were linked with Real Madrid-bound prodigy Endrick and midfielder Gabriel Moscardo of Corinthians.

It comes as Mikel Arteta’s side sit top of the Premier League following their 2-0 victory over Brighton on Sunday and dropped points by title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.

Having suffered a collapse during the second-half of last season to allow City through to win the league, Arsenal will be determined to stay the course this time around.

They have been paired with Porto in the last-16 of the Champions League.