Al-Hilal has officially booked Gabriel Martinelli for a medical this weekend, signaling the near-completion of a massive transfer that could see Arsenal pull in a staggering $76.8 million for their 25-year-old winger. This isn’t just another move, folks, it’s a club-record sale for the Gunners, blowing past the £35 million they got for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain years ago.
Show Me the Money: A Record-Breaking Exit
The financial side of this deal is absolutely wild. We’re talking a guaranteed $67.5 million, with another $9.3 million in add-ons, pushing the total to nearly $77 million. And Martinelli? He’s set to ink a contract worth over $23 million a year with Al-Hilal. That’s life-changing money right there. Arsenal won’t pocket every penny though; they’ve got a sell-on clause with Ituano from when they signed him for £6 million back in 2019. Mikel Arteta has been playing it cool, saying Martinelli was still an Arsenal player on Friday morning, but the writing is clearly on the wall. Arteta called it a “personal situation” they’re handling, stating, “Everybody knows and recognizes how much we love Gabi. Whatever the outcome is, it will be because everyone agrees to that.” Sounds like a mutual parting of ways is what’s happening.
A Diminished Role and Tough Conversations
So why the big move? Turns out, Martinelli had talks with Arteta earlier this month where it was made clear he’d be playing a diminished role this season. He wasn’t even in the matchday squad for the Community Shield or the Premier League opener against Coventry City, with Christos Tzolis seemingly locking down that left-wing spot. Arteta alluded to “tough” conversations, saying, “I know what is in each other’s hearts and the words that came through in those conversations made me really happy. It is inevitable that at some point you need to have certain discussions and say certain things which are tough.” He also referenced managing “numbers in the squad,” which also ties into Gabriel Jesus’s absence from training amid interest from Napoli and Everton.
Al-Hilal hopes to announce the transfer officially over the weekend, meaning we could see Martinelli put pen to paper real soon. For Arsenal, it’s a huge financial gain, but it also signals a clear shift in their attacking plans moving forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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