Defender was not pleased at teammate’s arrival.
Arsenal flop Andre Santos has admitted he was left ‘disappointed’ by the club’s deadline day capture of Spain left-back Nacho Monreal.
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Santos joined Gremio on loan for the remainder of the season on Monday, after Monreal’s £8.3m arrival from Malaga forced him further down the pecking order at the Emirates.
The Gunners also have England international Kieran Gibbs on their books but Santos, 29, has stressed he has a future in North London.
Arsene Wenger splashed out on Monreal after Gibbs was ruled out for two months with a thigh injury and former Fenerbahce man Santos admits the signing sent him a ‘clear message’.
“I am not going to lie and say I was not disappointed,” Santos told the Evening Standard.
“This was a last-minute deal and a clear message to me that I would not start for the rest of the season.
“Monreal is a good player and he will be able to help Arsenal. However, since I play in the same position as him, yes I was disappointed.
“I thought this was my chance to get back into the team, play some games, and get back to the form that me, the manager and the fans were expecting from me.”
Santos could make his Gremio debut against Santa Cruz tomorrow and says he hopes the loan move will increase his chances of a recall for Brazil ahead of the 2014 World Cup.
Santos, who has been capped 22 times for the Selecao, has not represented his country since July 2011 but hopes to play a part in the competition in his homeland.
“It would be a dream for me to play the World Cup in my home country. If I don’t play regularly for Arsenal, I’ll have no chance.
“By coming to Gremio I will be able to be in a position to compete for a spot. If I play well, on the top of my game, for sure I will get an opportunity under manager [Luiz Felipe] Scolari.
“That is my goal and I will be working very hard to achieve that.”
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