Editor's note: Tor-Kristian Karlsen is a Norwegian football scout and executive and is the former chief executive and sporting director at AS Monaco. He will write regularly for ESPN on the business of soccer and the process of scouting. In his latest column, he looks at Gabriel, the Lille defender who has completed a move to Arsenal.
On Tuesday, Arsenal confirmed the signing of Brazilian centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille for around €30 million in a five-year deal. The tall, imposing, left-sided defender was also on the wish list at Manchester United, Napoli and Everton, among others, yet the combination of fellow Brazilian Edu, Arsenal's sporting director, and coach Mikel Arteta convinced the promising youngster that his immediate future lies in North London.