ARSENAL wonderkid Gabriel Martinelli has taken his chance with both hands.
Few had heard of the 18-year-old Brazilian starlet before the Gunners splashed £6m on the forward in the summer. But now he’s breaking records.
Gabriel Martinelli is expected to become the next Brazilian superstarCredit: Getty – Contributor
Arsenal signed Martinelli for a fee of £6m from ItuanoCredit: Getty – Contributor
On Monday Night Football, Martinelli came to the fore when Freddie Ljungberg needed him the most to net an equaliser for Arsenal, who went on to beat West Ham 3-1.
In doing so, he became Arsenal’s youngest ever player to score on his full Premier League debut.
And earlier this season in the Carabao Cup he marked his debut with a stunning double against Nottingham Forest.
Not done there, Martinelli followed up his Carabao Cup heroics with a man-of-the-match display, again scoring twice, in a 4-0 rout of Standard Liege in the Europa League.
A strong performance in front of Jurgen Klopp at Anfield also had the Liverpool boss calling him a “talent of the century”.
The German later told Brazilian TV show Esporte Interativo: “He’s really unbelievable. So young, looks so mature already, is a proper threat. Yeah, he looks like a really decent player.”
Martinelli became Arsenal’s youngest ever goalscorer on his full Premier League debut against West HamCredit: Reuters
Standard Liege felt Martinelli’s wrath in the Europa LeagueCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Jurgen Klopp has called Martinelli a talent of the centuryCredit: Getty – Contributor
Martinelli is the new darling of the Arsenal faithful, and he’s primed to conquer English football.
IT STARTED WITH FUTSAL
Like Philippe Coutinho before him, Martinelli’s close control and quick feet were born from playing futsal.
From the age of nine he played for Corinthians’ futsal team before joining fourth division Brazilian team Ituano in 2015.
As soon as he turned 16, he was awarded a professional contract as buzz around the talent grew.
Nine months later, Martinelli made his Ituano bow – coming on as a sub against Taboao da Serra.
Martinelli buried Standard Liege with a double strike in Europa LeagueCredit: EPA
In the Carabao Cup Martinelli also scored twice against Nottingham ForestCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Martinelli began his football career playing futsal with CorinthiansCredit: Getty – Contributor
Unai Emery handed Martinelli his Premier League debut against NewcastleCredit: Getty – Contributor
He became the youngest player to debut for Ituano this century, and their fans knew they had a star in the making.
Six months later he celebrated his first goal for the club – against the same side he made history against – and was promoted to the 2019 Campeonato Paulista, Sao Paulo’s state championship squad.
Martinelli helped Ituano reach the quarter-finals of the competition, finding the net six times during that epic run.
He was named best newcomer, countryside player of the year and placed in the team of the year.
MAN UTD, BARCELONA & REAL MADRID
Martinelli’s promise at such a young age attracted the giants of the game.
Manchester United trialled him first, where he played in the same youth side as Mason Greenwood, but they passed on the opportunity to buy him, despite having four trials to impress.
[Paul] Pogba knew I was Brazilian and asked if everything was okay with me and where I was playing. We took a picture together.”
But it gave the prodigy the opportunity to meet some of his heroes.
“Between 2015 and 2017 I went there four times and trained for about 15 days,” Martinelli told ESPN Brasil.
“I asked to take a picture with [Patrice] Evra, [Marouane] Fellaini and other guys. [Paul] Pogba knew I was Brazilian and asked if everything was okay with me and where I was playing. We took a picture together.”
Martinelli trialled at Manchester United and was looked after by Paul Pogba
Barcelona and Real Madrid were interested in Martinelli before he signed for ArsenalCredit: Getty – Contributor
Then, Barcelona let Martinelli train at their famed La Masia academy.
“It was one of the best experiences I’ve had in football,” he revealed.
“Besides being one of the biggest clubs in the world, the level of training is very high and it made me grow a lot in football.”
Real Madrid were also said to be interested, but it was Arsenal who pounced first, after Martinelli was heavily-scouted by head of international recruitment, Francis Cagigao.
HE MODELS HIMSELF ON RONALDO
Versatility is key to Martinelli’s game, and he can play across the frontline, even as a main striker.
His biggest influence, unsurprisingly, is Juventus legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I play as an attacker, but not necessarily a forward. I consider myself more of the modern style, with speed and a lot of movement without the foot.
I really like Cristiano Ronaldo, because I also don’t like to play with my back to the defender holding the ball, as in the old fashion forward.”
“I really like Cristiano Ronaldo, because I also don’t like to play with my back to the defender holding the ball, as in the old fashion forward. But if I have to, I also know how to play like that.”
Arsenal fans were given a brief highlight of Martinelli’s ability in a cameo against Newcastle, as well as during their preseason tour of the US when he scored in a 3-0 win over Colorado Rapids.
Following his exploits in Europe and the Carabao Cup, expectation on Martinelli will now be high. But with a swagger in his step, the confident lad certainly seems to be able to handle it.
How Arsenal could line-up for Carabao Cup clash vs Nottingham Forest
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
