One of Arsenal’s most important players could’ve easily been playing for Manchester United right now.
Mikel Arteta has built a terrific squad at the Emirates. He has a number of incredible players at his disposal, which is why his side have been in the Premier League title race for two seasons in a row.
One Arsenal player who was signed by Unai Emery in 2019 had caught many clubs’ eye when he was still a kid. He had a bunch of trials as well.
Manchester United invited him twice to train with the youth sides, but on both occasions, they sent him back.
He is now a key player for Arsenal.
Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli shares what happened when he was on trial at Manchester United
Arsenal signed Gabriel Martinelli from Ituano, who were in the fourth-tier of Brazilian football at the time.
Not many fans had heard of the Brazilian winger apart from the fact that he was an exciting talent. He wasn’t even expected to be in the first team when the Gunners signed him.
However, Martinelli caught Emery’s eye from the very first day, and he was directly integrated into the senior side in the 2019/20 season.
The Brazil international had an outstanding start to life at Arsenal and he has been a key player for Arteta over the last two years.
However, if Manchester United’s recruitment was as good as Arsenal’s, Martinelli would’ve been their player today.
The 23-year-old has claimed that he was invited on trial by Manchester United – not once but twice. The first was when he was 13 and later at 17.
On both occasions, they sent him back to Brazil because they felt he wasn’t good enough.
Speaking about his first trial, Martinelli told the Players’ Tribune: “A short time after arriving at Ituano, still at age 13, I was called to try out at Manchester United. There I did feel the pressure. Overwhelmingly. I was very young, and everything was very new to me.
“The cold weather, the formality in a club that size, the language, the first time away from my mother for so many days….
Everything was heavy, and nothing seemed fun. To top it all off, I felt the huge expectation of being able to do everything right and be approved, which took away my peace of mind. In the end it didn’t work.”
About his second trial, he said: “When I turned 17, United called me again. Now, instead of nervous, I was very excited.
“I bumped into Pogba, Juan Mata, McTominay and other video game guys in the cafeteria. I managed to train well, and I was sure I would stay there. Besides, it was the second chance they had given me. They had seen something in me.
“But no. They sent me home again. On my way back, I still spent 15 days in Barcelona, enough to take another no. But something had changed.”
Martinelli injury scare
Manchester United would surely be regretting their decision not to sign Martinelli, but Arsenal will not care – they are glad to have him.
The Brazilian didn’t have a great season in the 2023/24 having scored just eight goals, but he is still one of the most dangerous wingers in the Premier League. He is Arsenal’s fastest player too (Squawka).
Martinelli is currently away on international duty, and a concerning footage emerged on Thursday.
Real Madrid star Eder Miliato made a very strong tackle on the Arsenal man, leaving him on the floor in pain. Martinelli had to be helped off the pitch by Brazil’s medical staff.
That is a real worry for Arsenal and especially Brazil, who kick off their Copa America campaign against Costa Rica on Monday night.