Cristhian Mosquera says signing for Arsenal is the reward for years of hard work, calling the opportunity to join Mikel Arteta’s side “a dream too big to turn down,” Softfootball can report.
The 19-year-old centre-back, who arrived from Valencia this week, spoke in glowing terms during his official unveiling, revealing how the move to north London feels like a major step in his already fast-moving career. According to the statement shared on the club’s website, Mosquera said the call from Arsenal was a great one that couldn’t be overlooked.
Here is what he said:
“It means a lot to me.” “There’s been a lot of hard work behind all of this. It’s an opportunity that came up and I couldn’t let it pass me by. I’m joining a historic, massive club. When you arrive here with your family, you really feel the greatness of this place.”
The Colombian-born defender broke through at Valencia earlier than expected, earning praise for his maturity and ball-playing ability. Now, he believes working under Arteta will push his development to another level. Mosquera was unveiled on Thursday and handed the number 3 jersey, worn in the past by Ashely Cole, Bacary Sagna, and Kieran Tierney.
He added that by saying:
“It’s true my career has moved faster than expected, and I’ve had to mature fast.” “Coming here is a chance to keep learning and improving. I’ll be working with great players and a top-class coaching staff, so that will help me develop personally.”
Mosquera also gave fans a glimpse into what to expect from him on the pitch:
He continued:
“I’m a player with a lot of energy. I’m young, so I still have plenty to give. I’m fully motivated and excited. Above all, I want to improve, which will create competition within the squad. I’m really happy.”
The new signing also shared how conversations with close friends Gabriel Paulista and Yunus Musah, both former teammates, helped him understand what Arsenal is all about.
He then concluded by saying,
“When Gabi and I were at Valencia, he always said Arsenal was on a different level and something magical. Yunus said the same about how huge this club is.”
