Former Arsenal chief David Dein has recalled how they almost missed out on signing Edu.

He revealed how Edu, Arsenal's current technical director, had a sticky start with the club.

The former Gunners midfielder was supposed to join from Brazilian club Corinthians in the summer of 2000.

Dein said: “He was an unusual transfer. I got a call at 3am from the immigration officer at Terminal 3, saying, 'Mr Dein, we've got one of your players here'.

“I said, 'What's the problem?'.

“'Well, his passport is not really good. We're going to have to send him back home.'"

Edu was entitled to a European passport through his Portuguese and Italian ancestry but the number on the document was out of sequence, revealing it to be a fake.

Dein said: “The agent had tried to fast-track it.

“I spoke to Arsene straight away and said, 'What do you want to do? It could take six to nine months'. Arsene said, 'No, we'll definitely sign him'.

“So I said to Edu at the time, 'Don't worry, go back, we'll get your papers in order, and you will be welcome whenever you come in'."