ARSENAL HAVE CONFIRMED the signing of teenage Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli from Ituano.
The 18-year-old has joined on a long-term deal and is the Gunners’ first signing of the summer.
Martinelli was named in the 2019 Team of the Year for the Campeonato Paulista and was rewarded with a chance to join Brazil’s senior team for a training camp in May.
He will link up with his new team-mates for pre-season training at Arsenal once the deal, reported to be worth £6million, has been ratified.
Speaking to Arsenal’s official website, Martinelli said: “It is a dream since I was a child and also my family’s dream for me to be playing in Europe and playing for a big team like Arsenal. I am going to take this opportunity.
“I am very grateful for everything. I am grateful to God and I will try to make the most out of it.
“Training with Brazil was an amazing feeling, a dream come true, being able to be beside great players. I was home when I got the news and I was super happy.
“It is a great opportunity to learn and I enjoyed it as much as I could and I have to thank the team for welcoming me with open arms.”
👋 Welcome to Arsenal, Gabriel Martinelli 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/czlXdHpkQs
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) July 2, 2019
He added: “I am a player who gives his all at all times, I play as a team and always look to win games and win trophies.
“I model my game on Cristiano Ronaldo – he is a player who works hard, pushing himself to the next level.”
Martinelli made his debut for Ituano in November 2017 and scored 10 goals in 34 appearances for the Sao Paulo-based club.
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About time. The coverage of the Masters this week has been very poor from the 42. Trump really maturing.
@Conor Houlihan: Nobody is interested that’s why.
@Derek Kelly☘: I wouldn’t agree with that. Just because you have no interest doesn’t mean nobody does. Snooker is absolutely massive in UK & Asia so your argument is flawed my friends.
@Conor Houlihan: been a busy few weeks for him trying to win this and get his wall built! Fair play!
@Derek Kelly☘: why did you click into the article so?
Hopefully Trump kicks on from here. Serious player on his day
the crowd bursting into applause and whistling after practically every shot Ronnie plays is ridiculous.
Ronnie had been quite poor by his standards all week. Seemed fragile this week, making mistakes that you wouldn’t associate with a player of his genius, hitting the bulk colours during safety exchanges and not getting to grips with the speed of the clothe. Hopefully Ronnie will roar back in the worlds, along with Selby, Robertson and a few others. Well done Judd, 10-10 in head to heads with Ronnie, and beaten him in the last two finals and still under 30.
@Dan Finlay: Bulk colours?
Over powers hahahaha