Arsenal backroom staff member signed from Chelsea quits club to pursue new role

Arsenal staff member has left the Gunners to start up his own business after joining from Chelsea in July 2024

Arsenal Soft Tissue Therapist Manoel Marcelo Ribeiro has left the club. Ribeiro, who was known as 'Manny' or 'Manu' around the Sobha Realty Training Centre, joined the Gunners in July 2024 from London rivals Chelsea.

The appointment was widely regarded as a notable coup for Mikel Arteta's side as the experienced masseur had previously spent 15 years with the Blues where he won 12 trophies.

Football.London understands Ribeiro has decided to step away from professional football to kickstart his own business venture called Adhesion Release London.

He was only at Arsenal around 17 months but did travel on the club's pre-season tour of Asia this summer.

It's understood he was very popular amongst the Gunners squad, not least with Brazilian duo Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli, who he spent a considerable period of time with behind the scenes.

Ribeiro, who has around 25 years of experience in the field having also worked for Fulham and West Ham, was also hugely popular with Chelsea's Brazilian players including Willian, Diego Costa, David Luiz and Thiago Silva during his time in west London.

It's said Italian midfielder Jorginho used to joke that Ribeiro had missed him so much, he decided to join him in making the switch across the capital.

On the field, Arsenal are bidding to bounce back from Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa when they travel to Club Brugge in Champions League action.

Mikel Arteta said when reflecting upon Villa's last-gasp winner: “Losing it in the manner that we did in the last kick of the game was very painful and disappointing.

“We put everything into the game to try to win it. We had spells when probably we weren’t at our best, especially with the ball and we put ourselves in trouble after regaining it.

“But after we generated a certain good momentum in the second half, we scored the goal and my feeling is we're going to go and win the game. So, to lose it in the manner that we did is painful, especially for the players, because I know how much they put into it.

“Credit to [Aston Villa] as well, they are a really good side and they keep you always on the edge in the manner that they play. It is a good test as well for us, we've been 18 games unbeaten, performing and winning almost every game and now we have to hit that one.

"Now we have to go again and every three days we have a game, so I'm sure we'll be ready.”