Martinelli close to a move to Saudi Arabia

Arsenal and Saudi club Al-Hilal are in advanced talks for the transfer of Gabriel Martinelli, with the fee reportedly set to be at least £50 million. The 25-year-old Brazilian, who has 12 months left on his contract at Emirates Stadium, is free to leave the club this summer. Manager Mikel Arteta has made it clear that the forward is not part of his plans. Negotiations between the two clubs have intensified in the last 24 hours, suggesting a deal could be imminent.

A decision for Martinelli

If a deal is finalized, it will be up to Martinelli—who has already rejected an offer from Galatasaray—to decide whether he wants to play in the Saudi Pro League. The salary package offered by Al-Hilal would also be significantly higher than his current wage, estimated at £180,000 per week at Arsenal. Martinelli joined Arsenal in 2019 from Ituano in Brazil and made 53 appearances across all competitions last season, scoring 11 goals. The Gunners won the Premier League title on that occasion. Yet the forward was left out of the squad for the opening match of the season against Coventry, a 3-0 win. The exclusion sparked reactions, including from former Arsenal striker Ian Wright, who criticized the club’s handling of the player. “The way Martinelli is being treated right now really makes me uncomfortable,” he told Sky Sports. “I know they may want him to leave, and many will say this is the time to sell. But there are ways to go about it, and it also has to suit him, the way he wants to leave the club.”

Arteta defends his decision

According to BBC Sport, Mikel Arteta explained his reasons for leaving Martinelli out of the squad while reaffirming his stance. Al-Hilal’s interest in Martinelli comes amid a broader trend, as the Saudi club is also reportedly targeting Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, who did not feature in the season opener against Brighton, a 2-1 loss. Unai Emery, Villa’s manager, has even declined to guarantee Watkins’ future at the club. Martinelli, who had a solid 2023-24 season despite tensions with his manager, will now have to make a swift decision about his future. If his potential move to Saudi Arabia is confirmed, it would mark a new chapter in his career while also raising questions about how English clubs manage their players.