Introduction
On August 24, Fabrizio Romano reported that Al Hilal are advancing on signing Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli, with the clubs agreeing on crucial terms and club-to-club talks at the final stages, stunning fans all around the world.
Contract Details
Transfer Fee: €50–55 million range
Personal Terms: Negotiations continue
The Linkings
Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli was linked with several clubs, including:
Galatasaray: Made a formal €45m offer, however, Martinelli rejected the offer as he was aiming for his career instead of the money.
Napoli: Early-stage talks between the clubs, however, there was no sign suggesting a huge transfer hijack.
AS Roma: Several reports suggested that Roma were interested in Gabriel Martinelli, but they did not approach the club.
Gabriel Martinelli’s Preference
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has directly told Martinelli that he was no longer in his tactical plans and requested Gabriel to find a new team.
Before Al Hilal’s offer, Gabriel Martinelli focused on moving to a European club that could improve his career.
As a result, he rejected Galatasaray’s offer. However, Al Hilal’s offer changed his perspective and preference, and he publicly announced that he is open to joining Al Hilal.
Winger Shortage
Al Hilal have a serious gap on the wing that concerns the fans. Their main Brazilian winger, Malcom, left the club just a few days ago.
This transfer could be a bandage for that position.
My Perspective
In my perspective, this is a solid decision from Al Hilal. Buying a player like Martinelli could change the course of a match easily.
Especially, his explosive pace is the attribute that makes him special, and it will be a huge advantage in the Saudi League.
Overall, Martinelli will be a huge puzzle piece for Al Hilal, and the Al Hilal coach can use him as a leader as well.
Fan Reactions
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