Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal were ready to sanction the departure of Gabriel Martinelli in the recently concluded transfer window.
According to a report from the Daily Mail, Arsenal were ready to sell Gabriel Martinelli this summer. While there was a lot of interest in the Brazilian international, no club was willing to meet the North London club’s demands of £60 million.
Martinelli joined the Gunners back in 2019, and he has only gone from strength to strength since then. Overall, he has been involved in 227 matches while contributing with 51 goals and 29 assists.
The Brazilian international had a breakthrough 2022/23 season, as he finished with 15 goals and six assists in the Premier League. While he showcased a lot of promise during that campaign, the 24-year-old has failed to reach those levels again.
Martinelli has been an important part of Mikel Arteta’s team, but he has not been able to meet their lofty expectations. Last season, he managed only 16 goal contributions in his 51 outings across competitions.
While Gabriel Martinelli still has two years left on his deal, the Gunners were ready to cash in on the Brazilian winger. They were looking for an upgrade on the left flank, and the door was open for Martinelli to leave.
The North London club do not have the best record when it comes to selling players, as they have rarely managed to raise the desired funds by cashing in on unwanted footballers. Andre Berta is determined to change that going forward.
Arsenal failed to cash in on Martinelli
Arsenal valued Gabriel Martinelli at over £60 million and stood firm on their demands throughout the window, which was one of the reasons they failed to cash in on him. While there was no shortage of interest, suitors were only willing to go as high as £40 million for the 24-year-old.
Berta was unwilling to compromise on their valuation, and as a result, Martinelli remained at the club. Meanwhile, reports suggested the player was not keen on leaving the club, which might have also played a part.
Arsenal are expected to be open to a potential sale in the winter window, but their demands are unlikely to change. It will be interesting to see whether they manage to secure a significant fee for him or risk the forward entering the final year of his contract next summer.