Al-Hilal Beat Serie A Heavyweights for Arsenal Attacker
Milan, Napoli, and Roma have all been linked to Gabriel Martinelli at some point during the summer, but Al-Hilal are on the verge of winning the race thanks to a very lucrative offer, both to Arsenal ...
Al-Hilal is closing in on securing Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli, who was previously linked with Serie A clubs Milan, Napoli, and Roma. The Saudi Pro League side is reportedly on the verge of signing the Brazilian attacker with a substantial offer that meets both Arsenal's and Martinelli's personal requirements. The deal is estimated to be worth around €60 million, representing a significant financial gain for Arsenal, who paid only €11 million for his initial transfer fee. Martinelli's former club, Ituano, will also benefit from a 20 percent sell-on clause.
Martinelli's departure from Arsenal after seven seasons is significant as he amassed 278 appearances, scoring 62 goals and providing 36 assists. Al-Hilal's coach, Simone Inzaghi, has been actively pursuing the attacker to convince him to make the move to the Saudi Pro League. The Brazilian international is not the only top talent Al-Hilal has been after this summer; they also approached Francisco Conceiçao, another noteworthy forward.
While Juventus might still consider selling a high-profile player this week, speedster Martinelli has been publicly deemed untouchable by coach Luciano Spalletti. Despite the considerable chatter surrounding his potential move to Italy, Al-Hilal's aggressive tactics and hefty offer suggest that Martinelli was unlikely to make a transfer to Serie A. Milan, the most likely destination in Italy, has been cautious with their budget following a string of big payments this summer.
Moreover, Martinelli's wages would be beyond the Serie A standard, even more so considering Al-Hilal's escalating demands.
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