Rio Ferdinand has hailed Arsenal youngster Charlie Patino for being "brave", following his decision to leave the club this summer.
Midfielder Patino was only 11 when he signed for the Gunners in 2015, since coming through the youth ranks at the club. And the England youth star has enhanced his reputation on loan at Blackpool this season, one of their shining lights amid a difficult campaign..
But rather than return to North London, Patino is now set to leave in a bid to get regular first team football, as opposed to triggering a clause to keep him at Arsenal until the end of 2025. And his decision has drawn praise from the former Manchester United defender, who on Wednesday was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.
Indeed, Ferdinand has a vested interest in Patino's progress, given he signed up to his New Era agency last year. And the England icon believes his move to the Championship has paid dividends.
“I think he’s a serious player”, he told his YouTube channel FIVE. “He’s been on loan at Blackpool, played 25-30 games and shown another side to his game; tactically, being more combative.
"With the ball, there’s been no doubts whether he’s technically ridiculous.”
As for his apparent decision to leave Arsenal, Ferdinand thinks it signals ambition.
“Obviously, Arsenal wanted to trigger a clause that they could keep him and sign another extension until 2025. I think it’s testament to the kid," he added. “For young kids, it’s a big point in their career. Sometimes, when a club offers you a deal, it’s not always the best-case scenario to stay and wait and wait and wait.
“I think, sometimes especially when you go out on loan, you get that taste of playing men’s football in front of fans and in stadiums, and to think you’re going to back and play [Under-]23s football, sometimes, it’s like, ‘I can’t go back to that’. You’ve got to be brave.”
Indeed, the official @NewEraSports_ Twitter account recently hailed Patino's impact at Bloomfield Road, posting: "Charlie Patino is having a huge impact on loan at Blackpool this season, with no English teenager has made more interceptions in Europe. He also currently sits one behind Jude Bellingham on goal involvement (4)."
Patino burst onto the scene at the Arsenal when, back in December 2021, he scored just minutes after coming on for his debut in a League Cup game against Sunderland.
Ferdinand is a mentor and ambassador at New Era Global Sports, a company that manages a host of players including Newcastle's in-form winger Jacob Murphy and Everton duo Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey.
