Gabriel Martinelli makes stance clear after £38m bid

Full name: Arsenal Football Club  Nickname: The Gunners Founded: October 1886 Stadium: Emirates Stadium Owner: Kroenke Sports and Entertainment Co-chairmen: Stan Kroenke, Josh Kroenke Manager: Mikel Arteta League: Premier League Season 2025/26: Champions Website: arsenal.com Arsenal football club is one…
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Arsenal transfer plans made news again this week, centered on winger Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian has told his camp he does not want to join Galatasaray. Arsenal must now decide how to handle the Turkish club’s approach.

Galatasaray’s offer turned down by Martinelli’s camp

Galatasaray recently placed a bid worth around €45 million for Martinelli. As reported by The Athletic, Arsenal are open to selling the 25-year-old if a strong offer arrives. Martinelli himself is not pushing for an exit. His camp made it clear that a move to Turkey does not appeal to him right now. The winger still has a deal at the club until 2027. There is also an option to extend it by a further year.

Martinelli joined the Gunners in 2019 from Brazilian side Ituano. He has made 278 appearances for the club and scored 62 goals along the way. Last season alone, he played 53 times across all competitions, scoring 11 goals and setting up seven more for his teammates. That form played a part as Arsenal won the Premier League title, with the club also reaching the final of the Champions League. Numbers like those explain why any exit would leave a real gap in Arteta’s attack, even with Tzolis now at the club.

Martinelli’s stats for the 2025-26 season at Arsenal, as per FOTMOB:

Arsenal reshape their left-wing options this summer

Arsenal have wanted to freshen up their left-side attack this summer. They have already signed Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge. He is a 24-year-old who offers pace and directness in wide areas. The club also showed strong interest in Vinicius Junior earlier in the window. That interest faded once the Brazilian signed a new long-term deal with Real Madrid instead.

Player sales have formed a big part of the club’s plans this summer. Football finances remain tight at Arsenal, shaping much of their business this summer. Forward Leandro Trossard was sold to Besiktas for €20 million. Midfielder Christian Norgaard also joined Everton, in a deal worth £7 million. Even with those sales done, Arsenal know more may still be needed before the window shuts.

What comes next for Gabriel Martinelli and Arsenal

Martinelli’s future at Arsenal is still not settled. Talks over a new contract have not yet started, even though his current deal edges closer to its final year. Arsenal also chased Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers earlier this summer, but Chelsea beat them to that deal. That miss adds to why losing Gabriel Martinelli too would leave a real hole out wide. Any new signing on the wing could affect where Martinelli fits into Mikel Arteta’s plans.

Arteta has often used Martinelli as an inverted winger who cuts inside onto his right foot. Tzolis plays a more direct, touchline style instead, so the two are not like-for-like options. That difference may shape how Arteta uses his wide players this season. Still, the Brazilian is not desperate to leave the club. He only wants a move that truly fits his goals, not one built around money alone.

The club will keep weighing offers as the window rolls on, but a sale will only happen on terms that suit both sides. Martinelli’s camp has made his stance clear to Arsenal, and that leaves Galatasaray with real work still to do.

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Deepanjali Bhardwaj

Deepanjali Bhardwaj is the Sports Editor at Six Sports, where she leads editorial coverage across cricket, football, and other major sporting events. She oversees newsroom operations, editorial planning, story development, and publishing standards while ensuring every article meets Six Sports’ commitment to accuracy, transparency, and responsible journalism.

She works closely with writers, editors, and contributors to deliver timely news, match reports, analysis, features, and explainers covering domestic and international competitions. Her editorial approach focuses on factual reporting, clear analysis, and reader-first journalism, helping audiences stay informed about the latest developments across the sporting world.

As Sports Editor, Deepanjali plays a key role in maintaining the publication’s editorial quality, consistency, and independence while guiding coverage of major leagues, tournaments, teams, and athletes.