ARSENAL will be on the lookout for more young Brazilian talent following Gabriel Martinelli’s success, according to SunSport’s South American football expert Tim Vickery.
He made the comments to Sky Sports News after an impressive display against Chelsea on Tuesday night.
Gabriel Martinelli breaks past NGolo Kante to score for Arsenal against Chelsea in eventual 2-2 drawCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The 18-year-old scored the Gunners’ first goal as they fought back from behind to finish the game at Stamford Bridge in a tie.
The former Ituano FC forward has scored 10 goals across all competitions since joining Arsenal in 2019.
He has become the first teenager to do so in one season for the Gunners since Nicolas Anelka.
Vickery told Sky Sports News that clubs across Europe are looking for more talent like him: ”The way the market is going, the European clubs are looking not so much for established stars, they’re looking for the likes of Martinelli.
”The Arsenal scouting unit are looking for players in Brazil who are by no means household names in their own home at the moment.
”Martinelli’s already scored with Arsenal as many senior goals as he scored in Brazil, playing mostly regional football in Sao Paulo”.
The youngster’s success raises questions over his eligibility when it comes to playing for the first team on international duty and this is something that Vickery certainly believes he will be summoned to in the near future.
While having represented Brazil at youth level in the past, he has turned down playing in the U23 Championships.
Vickery added: ”Like many from the Sao Paulo area, he has Italian roots and that makes him qualified to play for Italy.
”But you don’t see many obvious contenders for the Brazil No 9 shirt and that’s a position he can play.
”That centre-forward position for Brazil is very much up for grabs and if he keeps turning on the style for Arsenal, you could see him in the Brazil senior squad before long.
”At the moment I think the route is clear for Martinelli to have an international career with Brazil”.
Martinelli has caught the eyes of Los Blancos, but Arsenal are ready to ward the Spanish giants off by trebling his wages.
He is being described as the club’s most clinical finisher since Thierry Henry.
Real Madrid have shown interest in young Brazilian star Gabriel MartinelliCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
