Arsenal re-sign top scout Miguel Rios who discovered Bukayo Saka at the age of 8. The Gunners have bolstered their scouting department with one of the best operators in the business.
Arsenal have re-signed former scout Miguel Rios, the man who first brought Bukayo Saka to the club at the age of 8, Ballgist understands.
Rios has worked as a youth coach at Barcelona and Arsenal in the past, but more recently held senior scouting and recruitment roles for the likes of Brentford, Fulham and Wolves respectively.
He boasts extensive links across Europe including Spain and has been lauded for identifying and bringing 22-year-old Saka to the club over a decade ago.
“Bukayo came to the academy aged eight thanks to Miguel Rios, a young man who I asked to do some scouting for us in west London,” former Arsenal academy coach Roy Massey told BBC Sport.
“He brought in several youngsters but clearly the standout was Bukayo, who was 13 by the time I retired and has proved to be one of the most talented players produced by the Arsenal academy.
MIGUEL RIOS’S SIGNING BUKAYO SAKA’S EXPLOITS FOR ARSENAL
Saka recently reached a half-century for Arsenal with more goals and assists than Cristiano Ronaldo in his first 210 games.
He now has 13 goals and 12 assists in 31 games in all competitions, putting his combined total ahead of stars including Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah.
“When working for Arsenal, I first saw Bukayo at 7 years old and had attributes that were already at a much higher level than other players,” said Rios. “When watching him at 8 years old he had progressed even more and looked to have all the attributes and potential to be an elite player. At that age, anything can happen but his environment at home was excellent providing first class guidance. “When presenting the player at the Arsenal academy he went straight away into the top three players and everyone knew that he was a player to be signed and given a contract at the club.”
