ARSENAL chief Edu Gaspar has paid tribute to his footballer son – who has decided to QUIT the Emirates this summer.
Luigi Gaspar, 18, signed for Arsenal from Corinthians in 2019 after his father became the club’s new technical director.
Luigi Gaspar has announced he is leaving Arsenal this summer
The midfielder is the son of Arsenal technical director Edu Gaspar
The midfielder, born in London but raised in Brazil, played seven times for Arsenal’s U18s this season.
But he will now leave as his contract runs out next month to take on a new challenge elsewhere.
And dad Edu, who also has a daughter called Eduarda, posted a tearful tribute on social media, saying: “That’s it son! Your first stint in Europe you took on expertly.
“Adaptation to the country, adaptation to a new game model, language, new teammates, new coaches and new ‘difficulties’.
“With that, you leave bigger than you arrived and that is how we have to face our profession.
“Always grow! And you’ve grown a lot in these three years. Congratulations!!! Be proud of it all!
“Congratulations son!!! Now… fly!!! I love you !!! We will always be together at every step.”
Luigi himself posted a farewell message to fans, saying: “Thank you Arsenal , it’s never easy to say goodbye, a club I’ve watched and admired since the first day of my life, my life started here, I was born a North London Boy…
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“I wanted to thank everyone who was with me in these last three seasons I spent here, there were beautiful moments but also not so easy moments, sometimes things in football don’t work out the way we imagined, but that’s where you get thick skin to prepare you for any situation.
“I cried, laughed, made friends and built a family here… Eternally grateful for this club that opened the doors for me here in Europe.
“I arrived here as a boy, leaving Brazil afraid to face new challenges, and I leave today as a man ready for whatever is to come!
“My decision to leave was not an easy choice, but as I said in football, sometimes things don’t go the way we want, I feel that now is a time to face new challenges, to go to a new home.
“I leave here this letter in thanks to all the players, coaches and staff of the club! Thank you for everything you’ve done for me these years!”
