Gabriel Martinelli's representative Marcos Casseb has opened up on his client's decision to depart Arsenal after a seven-year spell with the Premier League champions
Gabriel Martinelli
Gabriel Martinelli left Arsenal to join Al-Hilal in a £60million transfer this summer
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Gabriel Martinelli's agent Marcos Casseb has claimed his client rejected offers from the Premier League, Italy and Germany before sealing his £60million switch to Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal.
Martinelli, who has already struck a hat-trick for his new club against Al-Taawoun since signing on the dotted line in the Middle East, helped end the gruelling 22-year wait for title glory in north London last season, netting 11 times across all competitions.
Casseb, of Roc Nation Sports, insists a departure was right for all parties as he provided extra background on the process, telling Brazilian news outlet Itatiaia Esporte: "His time at Arsenal has come to an end. It was seven years; he arrived there at 18 years old.
"Arsenal underwent a massive restructuring and, last year, they won the Premier League. We felt it was time for him to move on, and the club had also seen it that way. It was a very good departure for him and for Arsenal.
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"Besides everything else, he also became Arsenal's biggest-ever sale and he still helped Arsenal make a lot of money from his departure.
"Did he get offers? He did yeah. We had offers from Italian clubs, we had offers from German clubs and we had offers from other Premier League clubs but it was a moment when I think he needed and he also wanted to clear his head a bit, to change scenery.
"He went to the biggest club in Asia to be part of a very ambitious project. You can see it in the players that they have brought in, three players who were at the World Cup, each with their respective national teams and three players that are under 27.
"That's a trend in Arab football right now, they're changing the way they want to sign players. They've been trying to do that, lower the average age of the league and their project has attracted a lot of attention I think it was really import now for a change of scenery."
Martinelli wasn't included in Brazil's squad for the upcoming international break for friendlies against Australia (twice) and India, however, Casseb is confident he will be back in the Selecao fold very soon.
He also added that one day, the 25-year-old would like to return to his homeland to play for Corinthians, stating: "I think a little further down the line, yes [return to Brazilian football].
"He has four years left on his contract there, until he's 29. He does dream of returning, playing for Corinthians , the club he left, his passion. He wants to come back someday.
"He has every chance of returning to the Brazilian national team; he needs to play well there. In the World Cup, there were two players who were playing in the Arab league. What he needs is to perform his football well. Today we have great players in every league, and all the national teams see that."