Gabriel Martinelli’s agent has revealed that the player had multiple offers to remain in Europe and the Premier League, but the former Gunner ultimately wanted a fresh start.
Gabriel Martinelli’s agent Marcos Casseb has spoken to the media about his client’s summer transfer from Arsenal to Al-Hilal, revealing that the winger had other options to remain in Europe.
“We had offers from Italian clubs, we had offers from German clubs and we had offers from other Premier League clubs but it was a moment when I think he needed and he also wanted to clear his head a bit, to change scenery,” Casseb said.
“He went to the biggest club in Asia to be part of a very ambitious project.
“We felt it was time for him to move on, and the club had also seen it that way. It was a very good departure for him and for Arsenal.”
Casseb is telling a different story to some in the media over the summer, who had claimed that Martinelli was forced out and not even informed that he was up for sale. This claim had already been refuted by more recent reports that Mikel Arteta had spoken to the winger personally.
The agent is clearly suggesting it was a mutual decision, and that the move is what the player himself wanted.
As for the future, Martinelli’s agent was asked whether his client might ever return to Brazil and his former youth club and boyhood side Corinthians.
“I think a little further down the line, yes,” Casseb responded. “He has four years left on his contract there, until he’s 29. He does dream of returning, playing for Corinthians , the club he left, his passion. He wants to come back someday.”
Martinelli left Arsenal for a club-record fee of €70m (£60m), signing a contract worth €20m a year plus bonuses. Arsenal also successfully negotiated a sell-on clause into the deal.
The winger has made a strong start to life with Al-Hilal, scoring three goals in his first four games for the team.
Given Arsenal’s long positive association with Martinelli and that sell-on clause, there are plenty of reasons to hope he keeps doing well with his new club.
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