Arsenal Ready to Offload Martinelli for €50m as Man Utd Circle

Gabriel Martinelli's Arsenal future hangs in the balance after the Gunners signalled their willingness to cash in on the Brazilian winger for €50m (£42.6m) during the upcoming transfer window.

The situation has crystallised following Leandro Trossard's departure to Besiktas, which leaves Martinelli as Arsenal's sole recognised senior left-winger. Rather than promoting from within, manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta have decided to pursue upgrades, with Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge and Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers identified as targets on the wing.

Manchester United feature among the clubs credited with interest in Martinelli, according to reports circulating around the continent. Roma have also registered their interest in the 23-year-old, who featured for Brazil at the 2026 World Cup.

Arsenal had harboured hopes that a strong tournament showing would elevate Martinelli's market value, but the Brazilian's World Cup campaign failed to deliver the desired impact. Nevertheless, intermediaries received indications of a €45-50m price tag roughly a month ago, with Bayern Munich and Newcastle also mentioned alongside United as potential suitors.

The Rashford Complication

For United, the arithmetic appears straightforward enough. Martinelli possesses genuine pedigree—he's quick, dynamic, thrives in the Premier League, boasts Champions League experience, and has proven himself as an Arsenal success story. At €50m, the fee hardly represents a financial barrier for a club of United's resources.

The stumbling block comes in the form of Marcus Rashford. The England international is expected back at Carrington following the World Cup, and manager Michael Carrick would be content retaining him. Should Rashford remain at United, acquiring Martinelli would represent considerable redundancy in the squad.

The Old Trafford That Got Away

There's a curious footnote to this potential reunion. Martinelli nearly became a United player years before joining Arsenal from Brazilian outfit Ituano in 2019. The winger undertook trials at Old Trafford between 2015 and 2017, making four separate visits and training for roughly 15 days on each occasion.

Speaking to ESPN Brazil in March 2019, Martinelli reflected on those formative experiences: "Since everyone trains at the same training centre and eats in the same cafeteria, I saw all the professionals. I asked to take a picture with Evra, Fellaini and other guys. Pogba knew I was Brazilian and asked if everything was alright with me and where I played. We took a picture together."

The trials ultimately yielded nothing, but the connection to United remains part of his story. Whether that history translates into genuine summer movement remains to be seen, particularly if Rashford stays put.