Martinelli's agent reveals rejected Premier League, Italian and German offers before £60m Al-Hilal move

Gabriel Martinelli’s agent Marcos Casseb has revealed that the Brazilian winger rejected approaches from clubs in the Premier League, Italy and Germany before sealing his £60 million move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal earlier this month.

Speaking to Brazilian outlet Itatiaia Esporte, Casseb — of Roc Nation Sports — said Martinelli’s departure from Arsenal was the right outcome for both player and club after seven years in north London. “His time at Arsenal has come to an end,” Casseb said. “It was seven years; he arrived there at 18 years old. Arsenal underwent a massive restructuring and, last year, they won the Premier League. We felt it was time for him to move on, and the club had also seen it that way.”

Casseb confirmed that multiple European clubs had registered interest before Al-Hilal won the race. “We had offers from Italian clubs, we had offers from German clubs and we had offers from other Premier League clubs, but it was a moment when I think he needed and also wanted to clear his head a bit, to change scenery,” he said.

Martinelli was widely reported to have been forced out of the Emirates after being omitted from Arsenal’s opening two matchday squads by Mikel Arteta — a decision that drew public criticism from club legend Ian Wright. Casseb, however, framed the exit positively, noting that the deal made Martinelli Arsenal’s biggest-ever sale and generated significant funds for the club.

The 23-year-old has wasted little time settling at Al-Hilal, already scoring a hat-trick since his arrival. Casseb pointed to the ambition of the Saudi club as a key factor in the decision. “He went to the biggest club in Asia to be part of a very ambitious project,” he said, highlighting that Al-Hilal had signed three players who featured at the World Cup, all under the age of 27.

The news comes during the international break, which Arsenal have also used to tie down manager Arteta on a new contract reportedly running until 2030. The Gunners, reigning Premier League champions, head into the pause sitting second in the table after a 3-0 defeat to Brighton last Saturday ended a seven-game winning run to start the 2026/27 season.