Marquinhos, the rising Brazilian star currently at Nantes on loan from Arsenal, delves into his football journey and his Gunners’ ambition.
Sharing insights from his European transition, challenges faced, and drawing inspiration from legends, he explains his aspirations.
Young Brazilian talent Marquinhos, currently on loan at Nantes from Arsenal, discussed the accelerated start to his career with L’Equipe in their Saturday edition.
Described by many as a player who moves at an exhilarating pace on the field, he mirrors that in his professional journey.
“He goes very fast, it seems, and even a little too fast according to those who have had the chance to see him play for more than a few minutes,” L’Equipe write of Marquinhos.
While his transition to Arsenal was hastened by a loophole in the Pelé law that allowed Arsenal to pick him up for a fraction of the price it would have cost with a contract in place, Marquinhos felt the immediate challenges of the European environment.
“At first it was a bit difficult because of the language. I had English lessons in Brazil, but it is totally different from having to speak, express yourself on a daily basis. Everything was new to me. The three Brazilians who were there helped me a lot (Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli).”
His choice to be at Nantes isn’t by chance. Marquinhos called them, “A very good club, ambitious, which was looking to grow after a bad season.
While in Nantes, Marquinhos enjoys a close-knit family setting. “I live with my mother and my two older brothers (26 and 22), the house is always full,” he added with a smile. The youngest of his siblings, aged 15, remains in Brazil under their father’s guidance, chasing his own football dreams.
Before joining Nantes, Andrei Girotto assured Marquinhos about the familial environment of the club. Outside football, Marquinhos is just like any other youngster who enjoys playing video games.
He also shed light on the physicality of Ligue 1, stating, “I also think that Ligue 1 is more physical than the Premier League and that, like Arsenal, Nantes likes to have the ball.”
And it is with Arsenal that Marquinhos hopes to make his name.
“My goal is to succeed at Arsenal,” he said.
“With my agents and the club’s managers, we saw that the best for me, for my adaptation to Europe, was to continue for another year elsewhere, to have more game time.”
On footballing inspirations, he was quick to name Neymar. “He left an indelible mark by becoming the top scorer for the Seleçao,” Marquinhos expressed, before adding, “People experience football so intensely that very often they don’t understand what we do off the field.
“We should just thank him for everything he has done for football and for what he continues to do with the Brazilian selection.”