Brazil Coach Dunga Reveals Gilberto’s Arsenal Hurt
October 9, 2008
Brazil coach Dunga has revealed Gilberto Silva was hurt when the former Arsenal midfielder was denied chance to become the Gunners permanent captain.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger handed the captain’s armband to William Gallas at the start of 2007-08 campaign following Thierry Henry’s departure to Barcelona, going against popular perception that Gilberto was the man to step into Henry’s shoes on a permanent basis after being the stand-in skipper when the French maestro was injured in the 2006-07 campaign.
Gilberto Silva, who then turned down chance to lead Brazil, is now playing for Greek club Panathinaikos since summer’s free transfer.
“Beyond being a great player, he is a great man,†Dunga is quoted as saying in Mail Online.
“There was a time I gave him the captain’s armband and he immediately said to me: “It is for Lucio. He deserves it. I had the same situation at Arsenal and I wasn’t happy.”
“That shows what kind of man he is and how much he worries about his team-mates.â€
Gilberto is the best.
The Daily Mail also reports this story.