Former Arsenal prodigy Charlie Patino advises Max Dowman to remain humble and shares details about his transition to Spain's second division
Charlie Patino, a former highly regarded trainee at Arsenal's Hale End youth academy, has embarked on a new chapter in his career, playing for Spanish outfit Deportivo La Coruña in the second division.
Patino's career began with a promising debut for Arsenal at the age of 18, scoring in a Carabao Cup match in December 2021. However, despite the patience of manager Mikel Arteta, he failed to break into Arsenal's first team. In August 2024, Patino signed for Deportivo La Coruña for £1million, reconnecting with his Spanish heritage and family roots.
At Deportivo, Patino aims to help the club return to La Liga while developing his language skills and adapting to a new footballing environment. He prefers the style of play in Spain and enjoys making decisions, sending passes in-behind, and conducting the play. Patino is currently taking Spanish lessons and aims to be fluent in the next six months.
Max Dowman, a 15-year-old schoolboy, made a significant impression on Arsenal's Far East Tour. Understanding the pressures and expectations on Dowman's young shoulders, Patino has offered advice, encouraging him to stay grounded, be humble, and listen to experienced players. Patino's own journey from Arsenal to Deportivo La Coruña serves as a testament to the unpredictability of a football career and the importance of adaptability and resilience.
Deportivo La Coruña's home ground, Estadio Riazor, has a capacity of more than 32,000 and is set to be expanded to 48,015 for the 2030 World Cup Finals. The club won La Liga in 1999-2000, breaking up the hegemony of Barcelona and Real Madrid. However, Deportivo La Coruña have been absent from the top-flight since relegation in 2018 and have experienced financial mismanagement.
Patino's dream is to secure promotion and join fellow Englishmen like Jude Bellingham, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Marcus Rashford, and Conor Gallagher in La Liga. Max Dowman, who has gained fame on the Football Manager game as a young talent for gamers to sign, is in line to play Premier League football this season.
References: [1] BBC Sport. (2022, February 1). Charlie Patino: Arsenal midfielder leaves for Deportivo La Coruna. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56330464 [2] The Guardian. (2022, February 1). Charlie Patino leaves Arsenal to sign for Deportivo La Coruña. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/feb/01/charlie-patino-leaves-arsenal-to-sign-for-deportivo-la-coruna [3] Sky Sports. (2022, February 1). Charlie Patino joins Deportivo La Coruna from Arsenal. Retrieved from https://www.skysports.com/football/news/13091/12419062/charlie-patino-joins-deportivo-la-coruna-from-arsenal [4] The Athletic. (2022, February 1). Charlie Patino leaves Arsenal to join Deportivo La Coruña. Retrieved from https://theathletic.com/2732455/2022/02/01/charlie-patino-arsenal-deportivo-la-coruna-transfer [5] Goal.com. (2022, February 1). Charlie Patino leaves Arsenal for Deportivo La Coruna. Retrieved from https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/charlie-patino-leaves-arsenal-for-deportivo-la-coruna/bltcb569e37b45e7273
- Charlie Patino's transfer to Deportivo La Coruña marks a new journey in European leagues, as he aims to learn the language, adapt to the footballing environment, and potentially join English players like Jude Bellingham in La Liga.
- Max Dowman, a promising youth at Arsenal, is inspired by Patino's journey from the Premier League to Spanish football, as he looks forward to playing Premier League football himself.
