Brazilian football legend Cafu has lavished praise on his compatriot and Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães ahead of the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday. The two-time World Cup winner, who lifted the Champions League trophy in 2007, spoke highly of Gabriel's contributions at both ends of the pitch.
Gabriel's Stellar Season
Gabriel played a pivotal role in Arsenal's first Premier League title in 22 years, conceding just 27 goals while also scoring three times. The 28-year-old also found the net in Europe, opening the scoring in a 4-0 thrashing of Atletico Madrid in October, as the Gunners topped the league phase of the competition. Now, six days after securing domestic glory, Arsenal aim to become Europe's top club by defeating PSG, who boast the deadly attacking trio of Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Désiré Doué.
Cafu's Verdict
Speaking at the FedEx Move Like a Pro Activation in Budapest's Heroes' Square, Cafu said: "The technical qualities of Gabriel are undeniable, which is why he's been called up for the Brazil national team. He could be one of the first names on the team sheet at the World Cup. What makes him stand out is that he has as many qualities defending his own box as causing problems in the opponent's penalty area, which makes him a very dangerous player."
Despite PSG being favourites to retain their European crown, Cafu warned that Arsenal possess their own threats. "What Arsenal has to fear is Paris Saint-Germain, without a doubt. What PSG has to fear is Arsenal as a whole. Arsenal today is a team that plays compactly, a team that exploits counter-attacks very well, a team that knows how to both attack and defend, and not to mention that Arsenal's set pieces are a total danger in the opponent's area."
Prediction
The legendary right-back stopped short of naming a winner but predicted a high-scoring affair ending 3-3, with the match decided on penalties.
