Arsenal are weighing up a €6 million bid for teenage Brazilian striker Gabriel Martinelli, according to a number of reports in his homeland.
The 17-year-old made his debut for Sao Paulo-based Ituano last March and has turned heads scoring six goals in the club’s recent run to the quarter-finals of the 2019 Paulista Championship.
According to Sport Witness, the player’s agent has already made clear that a move to Europe is on the cards and that 25 clubs across the globe have expressed an interest.
It’s thought that Manchester United and Barcelona are amongst the big names sniffing around.
We’ve had something of a mixed bag of talent from South America over the last 20 years.
While the likes of Edu and Gilberto earned Invincible status and Alexis became a star, we’ve also seen high hopes dashed by young talents like Carlos Vela (who has since done very well in Spain and the US), Denilson, Wellington Silva and Samuel Galindo.
Given our budget is quite tight this summer, splashing out on a teenager – especially when we have some promising prospects coming through the ranks – would represent something of a risk, but perhaps this Martinelli kid is worth a punt?
Will bench vinicius jr in WC 2022
This story is nothing more than paper talk.
Firstly, even if we did sign him, there’s no chance he’d get a work permit, so he’d probably end up on loan for a couple of seasons until a work permit is granted. Just ask Wellington Silva and Joel Campbell how that went for them.
Secondly, with Laca and Auba being at the level they are, and having promising strikers like Nketieh and John-Jules, this move just doesn’t make sense.
Martellini is reported to be working towards an italian passport, so his way to the team is easier. Regardless, this is the kind of risk we should take, even if we sell him at half the price in 3 years.
This is arsenal.
We don’t sell him, we just let him go on multiple loans then let him walk on a bosman
Keep in mind that loaning a player is not free for the receiving club. Along with wages, there is also loan fees. So the figures are right for players with alot of potential.
Why am I keep hearing about this tight budget? What happened to the talk of “the summer will be different” during the January transfer window? Or we’re they merely reminding us that seasons change?
Yes loosen the purse! Bring on some big guns!!! But still go for those gambling signings!! More Guendouzis please.
Nothing changes at Arsenal. #wengerout
You’re hearing it because, unfortunately, it’s true. We had NO money in January – hence the loan deal for Suarez so anything more than nothing could be called “different”. We aren’t expected to make a big profit this year (to 31 May) so the main source of transfer funds is money, or part of it at least, from the new Adidas kit deal – that’s probably the £40 million or so available for transfers mentioned in the press. This can be increased if we qualify for the CL of course and/or if we can sell some players at a half-decent… Read more »
But are we not a club in par with Bayern Munich?
Seriously, I refuse to belive the tales of poverty. Some lower mid table clubs spend more than 40 million. I also find it curious that we are hearing stories of limited availability of funds since Wenger is gone. Previously the board could just be keep quiet and all fans will be blaming Wenger for not spending.
This…
I think it’s been a myth that we haven’t been spending. We’re no City, but we’ve been like 3rd of 4th biggest spenders in last few years under Wenger. Heck we paid £50M for a striker then paid £60M 6 months later for another one.
Almost £40M on Mustafi, almost £40M on Xhaka (who I like), £105M on strikers, etc. All the while letting about £200M worth of player assets walk for free or cheap. Then there’s the wage limit.
We’ve had money. We’ve just been bad with it.
If we’ve been bad with money but finish above Everton, United and Chelsea then ill take it.
Mustafi’s not as bad as people make him out to be, but not a 40mil defender. Some bad choices were made not only with money management but with player selection as well. [We could have had Virgil Van Dyke for less]
* Virgil van Dijk
yeah, aren’t we supposedly one of the richest clubs in Europe?!
I hate to be “That Guy” but Vela would be a North American talent, or at least Central America. Let’s file him the disappointing North Americans group with Gedion Zelalem
Oh come ON.
Carlos Vela is a wonderful footballer. Superb touch. Great nose for goal.
So he didn’t dislodge RVP at Arsenal; few would. RVP in his pomp was amazing.
Jaysus, people these days. Anything to take a dig at someone behind the anonymous web avie, eh?
Think Steve’s point was more that Mexico isn’t South America..
Though I don’t think labelling him a disappointment is that unreasonable. He looked like a future star in those halcyon League Cup team days with Wilshere et al, and though he’s had a good career, did very little for us. Still remember him being absolute magic in that 6-0 demolition of Sheffield Utd (I think)- one of my first trips to the Emirates!
We should have 2 budgets- 1 to strengthen the team with quality players for now, and another for hot prospects, which can give us an ROI in future
You mean as opposed to no budgets
We do. Kinda how it works.
Vela is Mexican
We know. The article is about South American footballers, not Brazilians.
Mexico isn’t in South America blogs
México is in North America.
Mexico is not in South America…
Eeesh ??♂️
Blogs, just edit the article to “Latin” American before you get hung, drawn, kidnapped and disappeared for making a mistake on your free blog.
Never heard of him and the probability (as it is for most of these stories) is that he won’t be arriving at The Emirates. We’re shopping largely in the bargain basement for new signings now so cheaper transfers, youngsters and free transfers are bound to feature. It’s not necessarily a disaster – as we can’t compete on transfers with the “usual suspects” in the EPL, we have to be cleverer.
Wouldn’t this be a bit risky, considering he might not get a work permit? We may not have the same route of sending him on loan to a club in the EU to get a passport any more, if he can’t get one.
In June he will gain his Italian citizenship meaning that a work permit will not be a problem.
Brexit???
You had to sneak that in there didn’t you
Ah, good to hear. Sign him up then!
If Emery gets us into the top 4 (and even maybe a European trophy) with the current squad, then I have great hope for the future and trust him even if we don’t make any massive summer signings
You only have to look at spurs as a case study to show what happens when you don’t recruit either smartly or at all. The premier league moves so fast these days. They’re in real danger now of finishing outside of the top 4
Don’t need to look at Spurs, mate. Look at us.
John-Jules, Balogun, Greenwood are all in the same age bracket. This kid must be good if we’re going after him with these three waiting in the wings.
I remember how proud I felt when I heard Arsenal was about to recruit the captain of Brazil’s U18, Denilson.
Don’t forget Andre Santos! I think that was Arsenal transfer rock bottom.
I’ll be forthcoming – I thought he was going to be so good. ?
I guess €6m doesn’t really count as “splashing out” these days, not that I’ve heard of this guy (which is neither here nor there, to be fair).
Martinelli; the name of the famous WhatsApp virus. So I guess we’re signing him with the loose bit of cash left over after we sign Samuel Umtiti and David Alaba, that’ll do nicely.
The kid is good, but not €6M good. Considering the level of the championship, we should take his goal tally with a pinch of salt despite his young age.
Ps.: Vela is Mexican, therefore not a south American. ?
Came here to mention Vela as well. Considering he’s the best of that second group, it actually helps to highlight the lack of youth development by removing him from the conversation.
He’s really good, but still could use 1 season at the Brazilian championship to get the grips with a big team. He’s from the same team Juninho (Middlesbrough) started his career (I guess he’s the president of this club, Ituano, nowadays) No wonder Martinelli’s being linked to English clubs then.
Carlos Vela is from Mexico, I think you’ll find that Mexico is in North America…
Also, players from the Middle East haven’t all been spectacular successes. Elneny, Riyaichi, Inamoto…
Looks like I need to start playing FM again, I used to know all about these young talents but now I’m clueless.
He can’t be worse than Amaury Bischoff I reckon
Looks similar to Sancho’s style of play and possibly pacier. Seems a good deal!
They’re saying here on Brazil, that the kid already has a verbal agreement with Arsenal
Our budget is always tight.
Correct. Even when we made reasonable profits it was largely due to transfers or property sales around The Emirates. We don’t have a lot of room on the first – we aren’t going to get a fortune for any of the players we want to sell – and the property sales finished some years ago. Qualifying for the CL will help (if we do) as will the new Adidas kit deal, but we will never be able to compete with City, Utd, Chelsea and now Liverpool financially.