“It was extremely disappointing. My sole desire was to join Manchester United because I was a fan. However, my experience at Old Trafford turned out to be incredibly disheartening as the club opted to sign another player instead of me. It was a deeply upsetting situation that left me feeling anxious…” – Gabriel Martinelli discusses his unsuccessful trial at Manchester United.

Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli has revealed details about his unsuccessful trial at Manchester United during his younger years.

Martinelli, now 22, underwent multiple visits to United’s academy while playing for the Brazilian fourth-tier club Ituano, with his last attempt occurring at the age of 17. Despite his efforts, he was not accepted into United’s academy.

Reflecting on his experiences, Martinelli acknowledged the challenges of trialing for a club as prestigious as Manchester United but believes that everything unfolded as it was meant to.

Speaking to ESPN Brazil, he expressed his initial hopes and anxieties about the trial, but ultimately accepted that his path led him to Arsenal for a reason.

In 2019, Martinelli made the move to Arsenal, where he has since become a regular fixture in the first team under manager Mikel Arteta.

This season, he has contributed seven goals and three assists, playing a significant role in Arsenal’s current position of third in the Premier League standings.

In contrast, Manchester United sits in sixth place, five points adrift of Aston Villa, whom they defeated 2-1 in their previous match.