“I’m ready to join” – Free agent fit, training, and ready for club after Arsenal exit

Cédric Soares was one of the players to leave Arsenal at the end of last season.

The Premier League side released him after his contract expired and the 33-year-old is yet to find a new club.

As reported by Record, the Portuguese fullback is ready to look for a new club in his country.

The former Arsenal man graduated from Sporting’s youth system and was part of their first team between 2010 and 2015. The defender left the Primeira Liga side permanently to join Southampton in June 2015.

Mikel Arteta’s side initially signed the player on a loan deal in January 2020. They offered him a long-term contract later that year, after his deal with the Saints had expired.

Cédric Soares insists he’s still waiting for the “right proposal” to join a new club.

“I continue to train every day. I’m ready to join any time. I feel good physically. Any time an interesting, competitive project comes along, which I also think is right for me and my family,” he said, as quoted by Record.

“Could we see Cédric in Portugal again? If the opportunity arises and it makes sense, yes. But I fought hard to have the career I’ve had. And I wanted to continue it in a competitive way and at a good level.

“And I think the Portuguese league has really grown a lot. It’s become a very interesting league. But as I said, it has to make sense. And a team that’s also open to it.”

Despite his past spell at Sporting, the ex-Gunners man hasn’t categorically ruled out a move to their league rivals, FC Porto and Benfica.

“That question had to come up [laughs]. Let’s spoil the interview. It was going well [laughs]. As I said, it’s a very interesting league. And I’m going to leave it at that,” Cédric Soares explained.

At Arsenal, he mainly played as a right-back, while also operating as a left-back on a few occasions. Cédric made 64 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners.