Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli opens up on failed Man Utd trial

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Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli has opened up on a four-year unsuccessful trial ‘project’ at Manchester United before he joined the Gunners in 2019. The Brazilian had several spells playing for the Red Devils during his teenage years but United ultimately passed up the opportunity to sign him. 

European clubs can only sign South American youngsters once they turn 18. Martinelli was due to join the Premier League giants at that age, with them taking him on trial at least four times. 

But at 17, Martinelli was told by United that he would not be signed. He joined Arsenal from Brazilian club Ituano a year later. 

The now-21-year-old believes his early spells in England gave him an advantage when he joined Arsenal as he already knew the style of play and the country’s culture. He was able to meet United stars such as Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. 

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“There was a project with Manchester United. I did some trials there. It didn’t work out but I went there four or five times,” he told the Players’ Tribune. 

“Manchester United had some scouts in Brazil and then they saw me playing. They had a meeting with my father and then it worked out. 

“Then there was this time I met Pogba. Ibra was there another time when I was a little older, I think it was the third or fourth trial. 

“That was a project for when I turned 18. If they really wanted to, I would move. We saw that.“But when I turned 17 – that was the last time I went to Manchester – I went back to Brazil and they said they didn’t want me, so that was it. I would come home to practice. 

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“I think it was very important for me, even though I got a ‘no’. But it was very important to know how football works [in England], how things are. So when I came permanently to Arsenal, I think I was a little more used to it. I knew how things were here and I knew a little about the culture too. 

“Since I was 13 I had this project with Manchester United, so in my head I was a bit like, ‘hey, I’m going to Manchester, regardless, when I turn 18’. Then when you reach the age, in the year you are 17, the guy says, ‘hey, we don’t want this anymore’. I said, ‘hey, what am I going to do now?’”

Martinelli then had a spell with Barcelona in their La Masia academy before moving permanently to Arsenal. The winger has enjoyed an excellent season so far, with his five goals helping the north Londoners sit top of the Premier League. 

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