Arsenal slammed for 'terrible treatment' of Charlie Patino as £1m transfer agreement with Deportivo La Coruna sparks fan backlash

The Gunners have agreed to sell 20-year-old Patino to Deportivo La Coruna for £1m ($1.3m/€1.2m), according to the Mirror. The midfielder was once considered to be one of Arsenal's brightest young talents and was described by the club's head of scouting Shaun O'Connor as the "best player who has ever walked through the doors at Hale End", but he's failed to kick on since making his first-team debut in 2020 and will soon leave the Emirates Stadium.

Patino's deal includes a sell-on clause, so Arsenal stand to eventually receive more than just £1m, but it's easy to ask just what's happened with the 20-year-old's development and why, given how highly-rated he was throughout his time in the club's academy, he's being allowed to leave north London. Loan spells at Blackpool and Swansea City served to provide Patino with senior experience but he started only 14 league games for the Swans last season, with only one of those starts coming in the second half of the campaign.

"1 million for patino, f*cking embarrassing," wrote @boulton_luka on X.

@Ashm__14 added: "£1m is an absolute joke. We are so bad at this."

Meanwhile, a confused @AhiweIkenna asked: "1m, is this a prank or something?"

"We really suck at selling players. City, Liverpool, and Chelsea would all have gotten 15-20m for him," wrote @julius_kamwathi.

@Gunners14title said: "Terrible deal and terrible treatment from the club to the player."

Deportivo, playing in the Segunda Division, were beaten 1-0 by Real Oviedo in their opening game of the new season. Depending on when his move is confirmed, Patino's debut could come at home to Racing Ferrol on September 1.