Bayern Munich made a daring attempt to lure winger Gabriel Martinelli away from Arsenal this summer transfer window.
Arsenal turn down Bayern bid for winger
Bayern Munich had their eyes fixed on Gabriel Martinelli during the summer window. As per Fabrizio Romano, the Bundesliga giants even held early talks with the player’s camp. But, they quickly realized that Arsenal weren’t ready to sell their star.
The North London club dismissed offers in the region of €30–35m. They saw the figure far too low for a player who has been central to Mikel Arteta’s plans.
Although, Martinelli never asked for a move despite new faces like Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke arriving at the club. Bayern eventually switched gears and signed Luis Diaz instead. They left their interest in Martinelli on the shelf.
Gunners stand firm on their star
Arsenal’s refusal to sell comes as no surprise given Martinelli’s role and future value. He joined from Ituano in 2019. Since then, the winger has made more than 220 appearances. He delivered 51 goals and 29 assists during that time. His current contract runs until 2027 with an option for an extra year.
The winger already earns a hefty £200k-a-week at the Emirates as well. At just 24, his talent is still high, making him one of Arsenal’s key players in the market. Last season, he had eight league goals and four assists, helping the Gunners push for the title again.
The winger hasn’t featured in every starting XI this term. Arsenal’s heavy summer spending, close to £250m on players shows they are building around him rather than pushing him out.
For Bayern, the window closed without their target. Meanwhile, for Arsenal, keeping the player felt like a small victory in itself.
Author’s Opinion:
Martinelli staying put is a win for Arsenal. Bayern’s interest shows his stock is rising fast. But, the Gunners were right to reject what looked like a cheap offer for a player of his talent.
