Arsenal loanee Marquinhos is currently out of action for Cruzeiro due to a clause in his contract with the club, according to reports from Brazil.
Marquinhos preparing for a game for Cruzeiro (Photo via Marquinhos on Instagram)
Photo via Marquinhos on Instagram
Though he hasn’t always been a starter for Cruzeiro on his loan spell so far, Arsenal’s Marquinhos has rarely missed out on the squad for the Brazilian side.
That is until recently, with the winger sitting out of the last three consecutive fixtures. He hasn’t just been benched, but excluded from the squad entirely.
Some initially suspected an injury, but Brazilian outlet O Tempo report that the issue is actually a contractual one.
Marquinhos plays for Cruzeiro (Photo via Marquinhos on Instagram)
Photo via Marquinhos on Instagram
According to the claims, Arsenal and Cruzeiro included a clause in Marquinhos’ contract that would turn his loan deal into a permanent transfer if he played 20 games in the first half of 2025. Marquinhos’ loan deal runs until December, but only the first six months are important here.
Including his two friendly appearances, Marquinhos has made it up to 18 so far, putting him just two short of the obligation. Yet Cruzeiro’s board and head coach Leonardo Jardim aren’t yet sure whether they should buy him or not.
The club are in talks with Arsenal to renegotiate the contract, but until something changes, they’re leaving the player out.
“The club and I asked Arsenal to get him to play a few more games so we can better assess his quality for our structure,” Jardim confirmed. “He certainly has quality, but we are waiting for Arsenal to open the door for him to play a few more games.”
Marquinhos after scoring for Cruzeiro (Photos via @pedrovalefoto and @yurilaurindofoto on Instagram)
Photos via @pedrovalefoto and @yurilaurindofoto on Instagram
Though many will ask why Arsenal should remove a clause the two clubs already agreed on, it is fair to point out that Fernando Diniz was head coach of Cruzeiro at the time.
Current head coach Jardim wasn’t behind the move to sign Marquinhos on loan, so it’s understandable if he might have different feelings about the potential permanent move.
Related Posts