When Charlie Patino told an Arsenal fan how to handle his transfer demands on Football Manager

Charlie Patino is living the dream. The Arsenal teenager has been grabbing all the headlines after scoring on his senior debut against Sunderland.

A creative midfielder who has modelled his game on Arsenal legends Cesc Fabregas and Santi Cazorla, Patino is one of the young men who helped Arsenal advance into the Carabao Cup semi-finals last night.

After signing his first professional contract last year, Charlie Patino has spent most of this season training with the first team. Last night, manager Mikel Arteta praised Patino for his performance and commended his work ethic.

Arteta gushed: “He is a kid that is coming through our system, a lovely kid. He is training with us almost every week.”

Patino left his mark in only ten minutes of playing time, replacing Smith Rowe in the last minutes of the second half. In the game’s last play, Patino astutely observed Pepe opening up space in the box with a savvy manoeuvre. After making a quick run at the right time, he tidily finished the chance to the delight of the Emirates Stadium.

He became the youngest Arsenal player to score on his debut since Jon Sammels in 1963.

Why is Charlie Patino a fan favourite?

Arsenal fans have had their eyes set on Patino for a while, and for good reason. At age 14, he was already playing for the Gunners’ under-18 squad. He also made The Guardian’s Next Generation 2020 list last year.

Brian Stapleton, the scout who spotted Jack Wilshere among others, once claimed that Patino was the best youth prospect he’d seen.

What’s more, Martin Odegaard is also a big fan.

Patino is doing all the right things to win the heart of Arsenal fans. And that includes replying to random Instagram messages about Football Manager.

Eight months ago, a fan was struggling to keep Patino in his Football Manager team after developing him to superstar status. The fan asked Patino for advice, and he got a wise answer from the teenager.

The fan wrote: “Hey man, so basically, I developed you in FM, and you became a class player for my Arsenal side. The problem, though, is that PSG bid for you, and now you’re upset that I rejected them. Any advice to get virtual Charlie Patino back on board?”

In a message laden with emojis that you can see in the screenshot above, Patino replied: “Tell virtual Charlie Patino to grow up, and remind him that Arsenal is a classier club… he’ll soon get over it! Hope I win you trophies on FM.”

Patino’s answer was class, and it shows his true colours. Hopefully, his big moment against Sunderland won’t stop him from handling fame and pressure this well.

Featured Image Credit: Getty