Gabriel Martinelli, 25, ‘seals £60MILLION Arsenal exit as Al Hilal finalise deal with Brazil star on four-year contract’

GABRIEL MARTINELLI is set to leave Arsenal for Al Hilal in a £60million deal. The Brazilian winger is closing in on a move to the Saudi Pro League side after the two clubs agreed a £60m fee, The Athletic confirmed. Gabriel Martinelli looks set to leave Arsenal and join Al Hilal Credit: Getty Martinelli has played a big part in Arsenal’s evolution from European hopefuls to Premier League champions under Arteta Credit: Getty The deal is worth €70m and is guaranteed, with no add-ons included, while Al Hilal have proposed a four-year contract for the 25-year-old. Personal terms are yet to be formally agreed but are not expected to be a problem, with Martinelli set to travel to Saudi Arabia early next week. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! If completed, the transfer will become Arsenal‘s record sale, smashing the £35m they received from Liverpool for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2017. Martinelli’s exit comes after a summer in which his future at the Emirates had increasingly looked uncertain. He was left out of the squad for Arsenal’s opening two matches – the 3-0 Community Shield win over Manchester City and the 3-0 Premier League victory over Coventry. Arsenal had received a £38.4m offer from Galatasaray earlier this month, but Martinelli’s camp informed the club that he was not interested in making the move. The Brazil international had also been linked with a move to Serie A, but Al Hilal has now emerged as his next destination Martinelli joined the Gunners from Brazilian side Ituano in 2019 and went on to make 278 first-team appearances, scoring 62 goals. Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Martinelli has been trusted by Arteta throughout his reign as Arsenal boss Credit: PA Last season alone he made 53 appearances as Arsenal won their first Premier League title since 2003/04 and reached the Champions League final. But his treatment during the final stages of his Arsenal career has left club legend Ian Wright uncomfortable. Speaking to Sky Sports after the Premier League opener against Coventry, former Gunners striker Wright said: “The way Martinelli is being treated at the moment, it really makes me feel uncomfortable.” “Not being involved in the squad, not being spoken to, he doesn’t know what’s going on. And yes, I know this – he doesn’t know what is happening.” Arsenal continue to monitor Julian Alvarez’s situation, and may well raise funds through the Martinelli sale Credit: AFP “For him to be nowhere near it, it just makes me feel a bit sad for him. He’s done enough with this squad to be treated with a little bit more respect.” Martinelli’s departure will also raise plenty of questions about what Arsenal are planning next. With Gabriel Jesus also closing in on an Emirates exit and set to join Barcelona, that could prove particularly interesting given Barcelona’s long-running pursuit of Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez – despite recent reports that the player himself has no interest in a move to London. The Spanish champions have been chasing the Argentina star for much of the summer, while Arsenal have also been heavily linked with a move for him. Barcelona look to have stepped back from their Alvarez pursuit after securing Jesus. And with Arsenal freeing up more funds with the Jesus and Martinelli sales, it could leave the door open for them to make their blockbuster move for Alvarez. Comment now