Gabriel Martinelli reveals ‘dream’ transfer in subtle hint on his Arsenal future

Gabriel Martinelli has opened the door to his next club if he leaves Arsenal. The Brazilian had been linked with a potential exit from the club in the summer, especially in the wake of Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze’s arrivals.

Martinelli, however, has enjoyed a solid recent run of form, scoring goals against Athletic Club, Manchester City and Olympiacos. Mikel Arteta was always very clear on his position on the winger, maintaining he was an integral player for his squad.

“No, I think Gabi has been a super important player for us and he’s going to remain very, very, very important,” Arteta said before the close of the window. “The fact that we have options with different qualities, that’s going to fulfil what we want, because every opponent is going to require different things.”

Despite his recent strong form and emergence as one of the form players in this early part of the season, the international break has thrown up the chance for the 24-year-old to speak more freely on his potential future destination. Signing from Ituano in Brazil in 2019, Martinelli admitted that one day he could return to the city of Sao Paulo but with another club.

“My relationship with Corinthians has always been very intense,” he told CazeTV. “I was born in Parque Sao Jorge.

“When I was six, I started playing there and spent my entire childhood at the club. I played futsal. Played on the pitch and spent every day of the week at Parque Sao Jorge. My life was there,” the Arsenal player revealed.

“I’m passionate about the club, I try to follow them as much as I can. I only don’t watch when I have a game the next day because they’re usually on at 1am, very late. But I always try to watch with my friends.”

His Brazilian and Arsenal teammate Gabriel Magalhaes is also a fan of the club and shares what is apparently a dream also held by Martinelli. “In the last derby, Gabriel [Magalhaes] went home and we watched it together with our friends,” he said.

“At the end of my career, I have this dream of going back to Brazil. My dad and I have already talked about it, we’ll go back to Corinthians. It’s my dream, and my dad is a huge Corinthians fan.”

The caveat at the end that this would be a move at the end of his career and not anytime soon will be a relief for those keen to see him stay in North London for the foreseeable future. But depending on how long he does remain with the Gunners, it could be his ‘next club’ could indeed be back in Brazil.