Arsenal’s young star, Marquinhos, is in the spotlight after being called up by Brazil for an u23 pre-Olympic tournament, raising questions about his loan period at Nantes and the possibility of an early recall by Arsenal.

Arsenal’s promising talent Marquinhos has been summoned by Brazil for their upcoming u23 pre-Olympic tournament, sparking discussions about his potential early return from his loan spell at Nantes. This call-up means Marquinhos will be absent from club duties for an extended period, as he aims to aid Brazil in securing a spot in the summer Olympics.

The tournament, set to commence on January 20th, will run until at least February 1st, with a possibility of continuing until February 11th if Brazil progress to the second group stage.

This schedule indicates that Marquinhos will be away from Nantes for another four weeks.

The 20-year-old already missed matches for Nantes in November, owing to his participation in the Pan American Games, where he clinched a gold medal with Brazil.

Since his return, Marquinhos has been limited to making only a few substitute appearances for Nantes. With the news of his impending absence in January, there is growing speculation that Arsenal might recall him in the winter transfer window.

Brazil’s track record in the Olympics is impressive, with the team securing bronze in 2008, silver in 2012, and gold in both 2016 and 2020. Arsenal supporters might recall Gabriel Martinelli’s contribution to Brazil’s gold medal victory in 2020, where he scored in the semi-final shootout.

The expectation is high for Brazil to qualify for the 2024 Olympics, and Marquinhos is poised to play a significant role in achieving this goal. His performance in the tournament and subsequent availability for Nantes will be closely watched, as rumours of an Arsenal recall continue to gain momentum.