Cruzeiro manager Leonardo Jardim has revealed why Arsenal youngster Marquinhos isn’t currently featuring for the Brazilian side.
Itatiaia cover comments from the boss today in which he explains they are trying to work out a deal with Arsenal over the 22-year-old forward.
Marquinhos has been on loan at the Brazilian club since the beginning of January, after a previous loan deal at Fluminense was brought to an end.
He’s not featured for Cruzeiro since May 1st, though, and Itatiaia explain that is because the Brazilian club will trigger an obligation to buy the forward from Arsenal if he continues to play.
However, according to a source that Itatiaia have spoken to, Cruzeiro would be free of this obligation triggering after June 30th. In other words, they can play him without activating the purchase obligation from that point.
The player’s current loan deal from Arsenal is set to expire on December 31st, so he faces a spell on the sidelines if a deal cannot be agreed. Cruzeiro, it appears, don’t want to sign him on a permanent basis.
And Jardim has admitted that they are working with Arsenal on an agreement to avoid leaving Marquinhos sat on the sidelines.
“The club and I asked Arsenal to get him to play a few more games to better assess his quality for our structure,” he said in a press conference following the win over Palestino on Wednesday.
“We hope Arsenal opens this door for him to play more games. I’m sure he will come back, because it is for the good of the player and his development.”
