Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli has dropped a huge hint about his long-term future, and it might not be in North London.
The Brazilian winger has confessed that he dreams of one day returning to his boyhood club Corinthians, the team where it all began.
“My relationship with Corinthians has always been very intense,” Martinelli told Globo Esporte. “At the end of my career, I dream of playing for Corinthians.”
It’s an emotional revelation from a player who’s become one of Mikel Arteta’s most electric attacking threats. The 24-year-old has started the new season on fire with three goals and an assist in nine games, but his heart clearly still beats for home.
“At the end of my career, I have this dream of going back to Brazil. My dad and I have already talked about it, we’ll go back to Corinthians,” he added.
For Martinelli, it’s not just football, it’s family. Born just minutes from Corinthians’ iconic Parque São Jorge stadium, he joined the club’s youth setup at six and spent his entire childhood in the famous black and white.
“I was born in Parque Sao Jorge. At six, I started playing for Corinthians, and my entire childhood, my life, was spent with Corinthians,” he said.
After leaving in 2015 to chase his professional dream at Ituano, the fearless forward’s rise was rapid. His stunning performances at the 2019 Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior, including a hat-trick in the final, earned him a £6 million move to Arsenal, and he hasn’t looked back since.
Now one of Europe’s brightest young talents, Martinelli has racked up over 50 goals in an Arsenal shirt and become a cornerstone of Arteta’s high-energy attack.
Still, the lure of home remains strong. The Arsenal ace regularly follows Corinthians’ matches and shares messages of support online, a reminder that no matter how far he’s come, his roots run deep.
Despite the emotional confession, there’s no panic at Arsenal just yet. Martinelli is tied down until 2027, and his dream return is seen as something for the distant future, not the immediate one.
But make no mistake, when the time comes, Martinelli’s heart may lead him back to where it all began. The boy from São Paulo who lit up the Premier League might just one day pull on that black and white shirt again.
