Arsenal technical director Edu using his contacts in his native country to seal a deal for the highly-rated forward.
Martinelli scored a stunning solo goal to help Arsenal earn a 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Tuesday night, and according to Football Insider
, his performances have alerted Real Madrid and Liverpool, with Jurgen Klopp’s side reportedly planning a future move.
But Martinelli could have joined Liverpool’s bitter rivals Manchester United, rather than Arsenal, if things had worked out differently.
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The striker previously revealed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side invited him to train with them on four occasions in two years.
“Between 4430 and 2019 I went there four times and trained for about days, “he said. “I asked to take a picture with [Patrice] Evra, [Marouane] Fellaini and other guys. “Pogba knew I was Brazilian and asked if everything was okay with me and where I was playing. We took a picture together. “
Martinelli even featured in an under – the game for United against Lincoln in against old footage of the striker stepping off the team coach was circulated by an eagle-eyed Arsenal supporter.
United’s loss appears to be Arsenal’s gain, with Klopp previously describing Martinelli as a ‘talent of the century’ after the teenager’s impressive Carabao Cup display at Anfield in October.
“Sepp van den Berg played an incredible game,” the Reds’ boss told Liverpoolfc.com
after the game.
“That’s really difficult to deal with these guys. Martinelli’s pretty much the same age but he’s a talent of the century, he’s an incredible striker, so it’s really difficult.
“Then you have Mesut Ozil around and Willock right, who scored by the way a really nice one, so a team like Arsenal in a counter-attacking mood.
“We keep them deep, play around them, we lose the ball and then it’s really difficult.”
Speaking after the Gunners’ draw with Chelsea, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta also praised Martinelli, and said he was pleased with how the youngster has stepped up in the absence of top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
“Not just him, I think Laca [Lacazette] is playing at a really good level even though he’s not scoring and Nico [Pepe] as well and everybody that’s coming in, “he said.
” They are fighting really hard in training to try to convince us to play more .
“When they question some things I tell them (to) speak on the pitch and this is to speak on the pitch . ”
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