Pele says he would have loved to play for Arsenal and Barcelona
Brazil icon Pele has stated that he would have loved to be an Arsenal player if he had the chance to play in the Premier League currently, reports The Telegraph.
The 74-year-old, who is regarded arguably as football’s all-time greatest player, won the World Cup three times for his country in 1958, 1962 and 1970 and achieved legendary status in the sport with his insane record of 1281 goals in 1363 games during his time with Santos and the New York Cosmos and Brazil.
"Arsenal is a good team to play with," he said. "I would play for Arsenal if I had a chance."
Asked which team he would play for in all of world football, he revealed he would like to have teamed up alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar.
"Today, Barcelona," he added. "They are the same style as Santos and Brazil of my day. Almost the same style."
Arsenal have struggled to assert themselves in the Premier League this season and lost 2-0 to Chelsea last weekend, after having Gabriel and Santi Cazorla sent off. And Blues striker Diego Costa was in the midst of all the controversy after the Spaniard initiated the on-field altercations and was responsible for Gabriel’s red card.
“Costa’s antics not good for football”
But FA decided to revoke the official’s decision as the red card was overturned while Costa has been handed a three-match ban following their investigation on the incident.
And Pele believes that the Brazil-born Spain international was wrong to do what he did and his actions send a wrong message to the children who would want to become professional footballers one day.
"It is not a good message for children," he said. "He didn't get a red card, but he was charged. It was dirty. Unfortunately so many things like this happen on the pitch and this is not good. That's clear. It is not good for football.
"I don't think he always used to play like that. It was one mistake. Everybody can make a mistake. It is not good for football or good for him. But it was one mistake.
"There's always been bad players and good players. It's always been like that. But today we have more information and we get it quicker. Of course, what happens today, in life, used to happen years ago, but we didn't have the information, and it's the same in sport."