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Pablo Mari’s move from Arsenal to Monza is likely to become permanent at the end of the season.
The Spaniard joined the newly promoted Serie A club at the start of the season on loan, with an agreement for the deal to become permanent should they avoid relegation.
They are currently well on course to achieve that, lying tenth in the table with 32 points, 14 points clear of the drop zone.
Mari has resumed playing again after being involved in a frightening incident shortly after arriving in Italy. He was shopping in a local supermarket with his wife and son, when a man attacked staff and customers with a knife.
A supermarket employee was killed in the incident, whilst Mari himself was stabbed in the back, although fortunately his injuries were non life-theratening.
The reported agreed transfer fee is £5.9 million.
Monza are owned by former Italian Prime Minister and AC Milan patron Silvio Berlosconi.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.