Gabriel Martinelli’s time at Arsenal looks increasingly like it’s winding down. Atletico Madrid have emerged as the latest suitor for the Brazilian winger, adding their name to a growing list of European clubs circling the 25-year-old this summer.
It’s no secret that Mikel Arteta wants to reshape his left flank after winning the Premier League. And Martinelli, once a fan favourite who could do no wrong, now finds himself at a crossroads.
Atletico Join the Race
According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Atletico Madrid have made contact with Arsenal about a potential deal for Martinelli. The La Liga side reportedly have the Brazilian on a shortlist of attacking targets and are expected to make a formal approach in the coming days.
This isn’t a sudden development, either. TEAMtalk first reported Atletico’s interest back in March, noting that Diego Simeone’s side were monitoring both Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus. ESPN corroborated that story at the time, describing the interest as serious.
So why has the pursuit heated up now?
Arsenal’s left wing overhaul is well underway. Leandro Trossard completed a £17 million move to Besiktas earlier this month, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano. Within days, the Gunners agreed a £34 million deal with Club Brugge for Greek winger Christos Tzolis, per Sky Sports.
That’s two left-sided attackers reshuffled in a matter of weeks. And Martinelli could be the third domino to fall.
A Declining Role in North London
Let’s be honest — Martinelli’s 2025/26 season wasn’t great. He managed just one Premier League goal and three assists across 25 league appearances for the champions. His average FotMob rating of 6.53 reflected a player whose influence had faded.
He did better in the Champions League. Six goals in nine appearances showed flashes of the old Martinelli. But that wasn’t enough to convince Arteta he’s the long-term answer on the left.
Arsenal’s interest in PSG’s Bradley Barcola tells you everything. Reports from FootballTransfers and CaughtOffside indicate the Gunners view Barcola as a marquee upgrade, though PSG’s €150 million asking price remains a major hurdle. Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa is another target being pursued independently.
With Tzolis already through the door and bigger names on the radar, where does that leave Martinelli?
On the transfer list, essentially.
What Arsenal Want — and What Comes Next
The asking price has been a moving target. Earlier this summer, reports from Sports Illustrated and Fichajes suggested Arsenal wanted around £50 million. German journalist Christian Falk put the figure at £45 million. More recently, Italian outlet Calciomercato, as relayed by AFTV, reported a lower price of approximately £38 million.
That drop could reflect a few things:
- Martinelli’s underwhelming World Cup with Brazil, which didn’t boost his value as Arsenal had hoped
- His contract expiring in June 2027, with an option to extend to 2028
- The sheer volume of interested clubs, which gives Arsenal options but also signals the player’s desire to move on
Bayern Munich, PSG, Barcelona, Juventus, and Roma have all been linked in recent months, per TransferFeed. Atletico’s latest approach simply adds another credible destination to the mix.
A fee somewhere in the £38-45 million range would still represent a healthy profit on the £6 million Arsenal paid Ituano for Martinelli back in 2019. He’s scored 61 goals across all competitions in seven seasons at the club — a solid return, even if consistency wasn’t always there.
For Martinelli, a move to the Metropolitano offers what he needs most right now: a guaranteed starting role and the chance to rebuild his confidence under one of Europe’s most demanding coaches.
This one feels like it has legs. Don’t be surprised if it picks up pace quickly.
