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Former Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze is set to join Mikel Arteta’s coaching staff at Arsenal.
The former United defender moved to Sir Alex Ferguson’s side in 2004 from Paris Saint-Germain.
The Argentine was popular with the fans for his whole-hearted attitude on the pitch and played 83 games for the club, scoring four goals.
He enraged fans in 2007 however, when he requested a move to bitter rivals Liverpool and the club refused to grant him his wish.
Heinze would later be sold to Real Madrid but only after severely tarnishing his relationship with the fanbase.
The Athletic report that Heinze could soon be working for another direct Premier League rival, this time as a coach.
The outlet states that “former Manchester United and Real Madrid defender Gabriel Heinze is joining Mikel Arteta’s coaching staff at Arsenal.”
Heinze has been appointed to replace Carlos Cuesta, who departed the Gunners to become Parma’s new head coach.
The Argentine was a teammate of Arteta back in the 2001-2002 season at Paris Saint-Germain.
Speaking on his time with the former United man at PSG, Arteta said “the other inspirations were (Mauricio) Pochettino and Heinze, those two were next to me all the time, behind me, and they were guiding me in everything I had to do in my professional life, how I had to understand the game and they were inspirational to me.”
Heinze finished his playing career for Newell’s Old Boys in 2014 and has since managed his former side, as well as Atalanta United and Velez Sarsfield.
There were reports last year that Arsenal were keen to bring Heinze into the fold and they have finally got their man.
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