Gio Queiroz said she is “starting to feel like Gio again” after joining Madrid CFF on loan from Arsenal in January.

The Brazilian forward scored a hat-trick in Madrid’s win over Villarreal on Saturday, and has impressed for the Liga F side.

However, Gio missed the first half of the season after she was not registered in the Arsenal squad (due to limits to squad numbers), and a loan move elsewhere had fallen through.

Speaking to Spanish sports website Relevo, Gio said: "[Arsenal] told me one thing, then another happened. They messed with me a lot. In preseason I was going to leave and they wanted me to leave. I wanted to play and I wanted to have minutes."

"They told me they were not going to register me. I was not very well. January appeared and it was an opportunity."

Gio has one year remaining on her Arsenal contract, having signed in September 2022 from Barcelona before being immediately loaned to Everton for the remainder of the season.

The 20-year-old was recalled in January following injuries in the Arsenal squad, and made 12 appearances for the Gunners. Her next competitive game would be for Madrid CFF in early 2024, rejoining the club where she made her senior debut at the age of 15.

Gio revealed to Relevo that she kept in touch with Madrid CFF head coach Victor Martin, who rejoined the club in January after an initial spell of six seasons in charge in the Spanish capital. Martin had worked with Gio in her initial two years at the club, and brought her back to the Liga F side on loan.

“I felt like I came home. Madrid CFF totally saved me,” Gio told Relevo.