Carlos Vela, the former Arsenal forward, faces devastation as his £3.3m Malibu home is destroyed in LA wildfires, highlighting California’s growing crisis.
Vela’s wife, Saioa Canibano, revealed that their £3.3 million Malibu property was reduced to ashes in the blaze. “Our beautiful Malibu home burned down yesterday… We are still in shock with everything that’s happening,” she wrote on Instagram. “It’s very sad and scary to see everything burning… Thankfully, we are safe.”
The luxurious 5,121-square-foot home featured five bedrooms, a chef’s kitchen, a swimming pool, and a cinema room, among other amenities.
The destruction underscores the severity of the wildfires, which have forced over 130,000 residents to evacuate.
Vela, who joined LAFC in 2018, became an MLS sensation, winning the Golden Boot and MVP award in 2019. He left the club briefly in 2023 but returned in late 2024 before leaving again on 1 January. Now 35, after scoring 93 goals, with 54 assists, for LAFC, he is currently without a club.
The Mexican international enjoyed a successful post-Arsenal career, particularly during his time at Real Sociedad before moving to Major League Soccer.
While the fires wreak havoc across California, Vela and his family join a growing list of affected celebrities, including Anthony Hopkins, Paris Hilton, and Miles Teller, who now face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives.
Carlos Vela: A case of unfulfilled potential at Arsenal
Carlos Vela’s time at Arsenal remains a story of immense promise that ultimately fell short of its potential.
Joining Arsenal as a 16-year-old prodigy from Chivas in 2005, Vela arrived in North London with an aura of excitement. Known for his technical ability, vision, and a distinctive flair for finishing, he embodied the archetype of a modern forward.
However, as is often the case with precocious talents, circumstances and context dictated a career trajectory that did not match early expectations.
Vela’s Arsenal journey began with a challenge that shaped its course—work permit issues.
Unable to immediately integrate into English football, the Mexican forward embarked on a series of loans to Spain. Celta Vigo came first but was his spell at Salamanca in the Segunda División that provided glimpses of brilliance. Eight goals in 31 appearances demonstrated his ability to adapt to the European game, and his time at Osasuna the following year furthered his development, pitting him against La Liga’s elite.
Yet, while these experiences honed his technical attributes, they deprived him of critical time to acclimatise to the rigours and culture of Arsenal.
Upon finally securing eligibility to play in England, Vela’s Arsenal debut during the 2008–09 season demonstrated the qualities that had initially drawn Arsène Wenger’s attention. His performance in a League Cup tie against Sheffield United, capped by a sublime hat-trick, remains etched in memory as a display of his potential.
Vela’s trademark chipped finishes, executed with a calmness belying his age, hinted at a player capable of transcending the ordinary.
However, beneath the surface, challenges persisted.
Arsenal’s squad at the time boasted attacking options such as Robin van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Andrey Arshavin—established stars who left limited room for a young player finding his feet. Vela’s appearances were sporadic, his role primarily restricted to cameo performances in domestic cups or late substitutions in league games.
While his technical proficiency was evident, questions arose about his physicality and consistency in the high-pressure environment of the Premier League.
By the 2010–11 season, it became clear that Vela’s Arsenal career was losing momentum. A brief loan spell at West Bromwich Albion yielded flashes of quality but did little to alter his trajectory at the Emirates.
The turning point came with his loan to Real Sociedad in 2011–12, a move that marked the beginning of a revival. In San Sebastián, Vela found a system that suited his game. His creativity flourished, and he established himself as a vital cog in Sociedad’s attack.
The decision to make the move permanent in 2012 closed the chapter on his Arsenal tenure. While Vela’s time in North London did not deliver on the lofty expectations that accompanied his arrival, it provided a foundation upon which he built a distinguished career.
At Real Sociedad, he became one of La Liga’s most dynamic forwards, making 250 appearances, scoring 73 goals with 43 assists.
His eventual move to Los Angeles FC in 2018 saw him thrive as the face of a burgeoning MLS franchise.
In retrospect, Carlos Vela’s Arsenal journey serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities of football development. Talent alone is rarely enough; timing, opportunity, and context play equally significant roles.
For Arsenal fans, Vela remains a “what could have been” story—a player whose potential was undeniable, yet whose true brilliance never emerged during his time under North London’s spotlight.
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