Gabriel Martinelli’s move to Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal has been one of the most talked-about transfers of the season, but according to his agent, Marcos Casseb, the Brazilian forward had a wealth of alternative options before settling on a record-breaking £60 million deal.
Casseb, representing Roc Nation Sports, revealed that Martinelli turned down significant interest from top-tier clubs in Germany, Italy, and rival Premier League sides before deciding to depart North London. The transfer saw Martinelli leave Arsenal as the club’s biggest-ever sale, marking a lucrative conclusion to a seven-year stint that saw him arrive as a teenager and depart as a Premier League champion.
“Did he get offers? He did, yeah,” Casseb told Brazilian outlet Itatiaia Esporte. “We had offers from Italian clubs, we had offers from German clubs, and we had offers from other Premier League clubs. But it was a moment where I think he needed—and he also wanted—to clear his head a bit, to change scenery.”
The transition has already yielded immediate rewards on the pitch. Martinelli has hit the ground running in the Middle East, netting a hat-trick against Al-Taawoun in a statement performance that justifies the massive investment made by the Saudi outfit.
For Arsenal, the move represents a “very good departure” for both parties. Having played a crucial role in the Gunners’ historic title-winning campaign last season, where he contributed 11 goals across all competitions, Martinelli’s exit provided the club with a significant financial windfall, aiding their ongoing squad restructuring.
Casseb emphasized that Al-Hilal’s ambitious project was the primary draw for the 25-year-old. “He went to the biggest club in Asia to be part of a very ambitious project,” Casseb explained. “You can see it in the players they have brought in—players who were at the World Cup and are under 27. That’s a trend in Arab football right now; they are lowering the average age of the league, and that project attracted a lot of attention.”
While Martinelli was omitted from the latest Brazil national team squad for upcoming friendlies against Australia and India, his representative remains unfazed. Casseb is confident that his client’s talent will force a return to the Seleção fold, noting that international selectors are increasingly willing to look beyond European borders for talent.
Looking toward the distant future, Casseb confirmed that Martinelli harbors a desire to eventually return to his roots. “He has four years left on his contract [at Al-Hilal], until he’s 29. He does dream of returning to play for Corinthians, the club he left, his passion. He wants to come back someday,” Casseb added. For now, however, the focus remains on his burgeoning career in the Saudi Pro League, where he is already establishing himself as a marquee star.
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