Barcelona are reportedly monitoring Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli’s progress as the young winger continues to impress for club and country.
The 21-year-old has been outstanding for Mikel Arteta’s side this season, scoring five and assisting twice in 14 Premier League games as the Gunners shot up to top spot in the league, and has appeared as a substitute in all of Brazil’s World Cup games in Qatar.
His current deal runs until 2024 but the club have an option to extend, and there have been reports that the forward is happy in north London.
His performances at the World Cup have caught the eye of Barcelona, who are now looking on with keen interest according to SPORT in Spain:
“Barça is very attentive to the evolution of Gabriel Martinelli with the Brazilian team and the attacker could become a target for the Blaugrana at the end of the season,” the report claims.
“At 21, the attacker is one of Arsenal’s stars and could be a real market opportunity if he finally does not renew, since in June he will only have one year left on his contract.
“The club has very good references and is fully informed of his movements.”
TIF Thoughts on Martinelli…
Although he may be flattered by the interest shown in him from Barcelona, there is no reason why Martinelli, who has been hailed as ‘outstanding’, should depart north London any time soon.
He is a regular starter at the team at the summit of the Premier League, in a system in which he is thriving, under a manager who clearly trusts him, and he himself has expressed his happiness with his own progress.
A contract extension at Arsenal is expected, and as things stand they look likely to qualify for the Champions League next season, and this will give the Brazilian, who is valued at £77.5m (as per CIES), another platform to shine on a global stage.