The inclusion of Arsenal attacker Gabriel Martinelli in Brazil’s list for the World Cup had positive and negative reactions from the local media.
Most local journalists acknowledge that the 21-year-old is indeed having a great season with the Gunners and did something to deserve that spot, however, some pundits believe other players have shown more over the past few years.
Band host Neto is one of them, as he’d already been saying that it’d be a shame if Tite didn’t take Flamengo star Gabriel Barbosa to the World Cup. With Martinelli now in the list, the Arsenal star ended up being the one slammed for taking Gabigol’s place.
“This is a shame, a joke! I feel ashamed! Not because of Dani Alves’ story. What is Martinelli’s story? 33 career goals. This is a shame, a lack of respect for football. It shows how dirty football is, it’s dishonourable. It’s happened to me and you (Velloso) because we didn’t go to the World Cup because we didn’t play in Rio de Janeiro,” said Neto (via ESPN Brasil).
“Doing this with football shows that you don’t deserve the position you are in. Calling up Martinelli and not calling up Gabigol is heresy, a lack of respect.
“The guy who scores five goals in the season, who walks around the mall here, nobody knows who he is… And not taking Gabigol, the guy who scored the goal of the Libertadores title, who scored 29 goals in the season.
In Brazil, there’s always been a myth about the national team working as a showcase for players to be involved in big transfers, as if there was some kind of secret agreement between the coach and agents.
Neto now suggests that Martinelli may have been taken to the World Cup just so Arsenal, who employ Edu Gaspar, can sell him for a big amount. He backs up his theory with the fact that national team coordinator Juninho Paulista used to own Ituano, the striker’s former club.
“I doubt that Martinelli will not be sold from Arsenal! And how much will Ituano, who belonged to Juninho Paulista, take? And who took Tite to the national team? Edu Gaspar! And who is Arsenal’s football director? Oh, it’s Edu!”
Martinelli isn’t the only Arsenal player who made it to Brazil’s squad, as Gabriel Jesus was in the list as well. The former Manchester City player wasn’t able to score any goals at the 2018 World Cup, despite being the national team’s number nine. That’s why he wasn’t spared from the comments either, especially for his current drought with the Gunners.
“What has Martinelli done in European football? Arsenal are not even in the Champions League! This is a calamity! It’s the biggest shame!
“How many goals has Gabriel Jesus scored in these last games? Oh, none. And in the World Cup? Zero. How many goals has he scored in the qualifiers? Zero. He hasn’t scored in eight games. So it’s not time!”
