Talks have reached advanced stage between Arsenal and Al-Hilal over the transfer of Gabi Martinelli to Saudi side.
The 25-year-old Brazil international can leave the club for free this summer, as his manager Mikel Arteta made clear that the attacker is not part of his plan anymore.
Al-Hilal Push to Finalize Martinelli Deal
Negotiations between the two clubs have become intense in the past 24 hours, as the transfer deal is nearing completion, per BBC Sport.
Provided an agreement can be reached, the player himself will get to decide whether he wishes to play for a club in the Saudi Professional League.
Also, the salary that Al-Hilal are ready to offer Martinelli is expected to be much higher than the reported £180,000-a-week deal the forward currently gets from Arsenal.
Martinelli signed for Arsenal from Brazilian side Ituano in 2019 and now has one year left on his contract with the London club.
Last season, he played in 53 matches across all competitions for the Gunners, managing to net 11 goals, as his team managed to clinch the Premier League crown.
Arteta’s Tactical Shift Sparks Criticism
However, the player was not included in the team’s lineup for the opening game of the new season against Coventry that Arsenal won 3-0 on Friday.
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright criticized the decision of Arteta to leave out Martinelli from the starting squad.
“The way Martinelli is being treated at the moment, it really makes me feel uncomfortable,” Wright told Sky Sports.
“I know they might want him out, and a lot of people might say, ‘yeah, it’s time for him to move him on’. But there’s ways of doing that and it should suit him as well, how he wants to leave.”
