Marquinhos says he’s hoping to use the upcoming CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament as a springboard as he looks to get his Arsenal career back on track after underwhelming spells at Norwich and Nantes.
The Gunners confirmed on Friday that the 20-year-old winger had been prematurely recalled from his season-long loan with Nantes and will be allowed to travel to Venezuela where he’ll play for Brazil’s under-23s.
This will be the second time this season that Marquinhos has returned to South America for an international tournament. He was also part of the Brazil squad that won gold in Chile at the Pan-American Games in November, an event that forced him to miss three weeks of action for Nantes.
Signed as ‘one for the future’ in the summer of 2022, Marquinhos was a bright spark on his debut in the Europa League – he scored and assisted in a 2-1 win over FC Zurich – but hasn’t been able to maintain those standards.
While it doesn’t look like he’ll be loaned out again this season, it’ll still take a huge turnaround in fortunes for him to get minutes in Mikel Arteta’s first team. However, with the Paris 2024 Olympics on the horizon, he at least has something else to aim for.
“I’m very focused on having a great Pre-Olympic [tournament], to return to Arsenal confident, to continue the work there, and God willing, to be at the next Olympics,” he told Globo Esporte (translated by Sport Witness).
He added: “It’s always very special to wear the shirt of the national team, I think every player has to have that desire to wear the heaviest shirt in the world.
“I spoke to the coach, the president, about my desire to wear the national team shirt, about my dream of qualifying for the next Olympics and being there. I positioned myself within the club so that I could be here and defend Brazil.”
If Marquinhos does get the nod for the Olympics he’ll miss Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the USA. Presumably, the club won’t make a decision on the player’s long-term future until the competition is over, perhaps hoping the international platform lures in a few suitors.
Best stay there.
He wasn’t anywhere near good enough for Norwich City or Nantes and he most definitely won’t make it here.
I wanted to give you counterexamples but couldn’t think of any. We’ve never bought a young player who wasn’t good enough when he arrived then became top top top quality.
A lot of people didn’t think Ramsdale was up to much and that we shouldn’t have signed him. Now he’s Spunk level!
Another problem with Marquinhos is that he spent much of his loan with Nantes with the Brazilian U21 then came back to Nantes and played several very poor games then got injured. Once he regained his fitness then insisted on joining with the Brazilian Pre-Olympic Team – just hearing what he said about returning to Arsenal and working hard so he can join up with the Olympic team makes me believe his focus is not with Arsenal…
He’s quite international oriented
…while getting paid by clubs.
At his age a chance to represent his country doesn’t come around again. Given the choice of sitting on the Arsenal bench or qualifying for the Olympics what do you expect him to do?
Eeeerrrrrrr – Saliba 🤷🏾♂️
A certain Serge Gnabry had one of the worst loan spells you could ever imagine at West Brom. If you check his medal cabinet now you’ll find 5 consecutive Bundesliga’s and a champions league winners medal.
It might’ve gone better if it was to anyone other Tony Pulis, though. That disastrous loan may have actually caused an overhaul of the clubs loan strategy.
Thinking there are no other managers out there as halfwitted as Tony Pulis is quite an optimistic mindset
Alex Song, Adebayor, Kolo Toure, Szsesny (sp), Martinez. Admittedly not the most impressive list.
Any news? When are our boys due back from Dubai?
I once got really confident when I bought something from Venezuela.
Terribly numb gums though…
You bought magic toothpaste from Paddington Bear’s cousin?
Starting to remind me of Wellington Silva
In other news, Mourinho got sacked by Roma today, something we can all get behind. He lasted a full 2 and a half years before it all went septic bucket of phlegm. Is that a record?
I think it’s the norm.
He must go to MU!
What do we need to do to get the Poo-meter out again?
Sell this dude. He’ll never get near the first team. Just taking up another squad place.
I still believe in the kid. He wants it so bad, no doubt about that. He is obviously talented, but that will to make it will set him apart. He should have a good career, even if he doesn’t make it with us.
Also, I just hate all the negativity that comes with the team performing poorly, and the hate players get when we are struggling. Anyway, it’s the game now with social media giving every horse a voice.
I got the vibes of a Joel Campbell 2.0 story
Not everyone can adapt from overseas
He needs some sort of success in England to start from. Brazil has for sure altered his priority and he may become lost in the system, even in Brazil if he isn’t careful after he doesn’t qualify for youth competitions anymore
Who is the loans manager now?