Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp sees any Gabriel Martinelli hopes vanish

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has seen any hopes of signing Gabriel Martinelli from Arsenal vanish into thin air after the Brazil winger penned a new four-and-a-half year contract to remain at the Emirates Stadium. Martinelli has been in imperious form for the Gunners this season and has helped his side storm to the top of the Premier League table.

Arsenal signed Martinelli from Brazilian outfit Ituano in 2019 when he was just 18 years old and handed him his first-team debut in a Premier League clash with Newcastle a month later. The player then bagged a brace as his side lost to Liverpool in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup in October 2019.

And following that clash, Klopp said: “Martinelli’s pretty much the same age [as Liverpool defender Sepp Van De Berg] but he’s a talent of the century – he’s an incredible striker, so it’s really difficult. It was not in this game only. I watch a lot of football, so I saw the Europa League games of Arsenal.

“He’s 18 years old, right? So our scouting department is all over the world and stuff like this, but I think Edu gets all the credit for that signing – he came from wherever. He’s really unbelievable. So young, looks so mature already, is a proper threat. Yeah, he looks like a really decent player. I didn’t want to put any backpack on his back with this thing but I just really like good football players and obviously he’s a very good one.”

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And Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta added: “We’re delighted Gabi has signed a new long-term contract. Our supporters see his quality and energy every single time he puts on the shirt and he’s the same every day in training, with his hard work and positive values.

“Gabi is still very young, so we know there’s still much more to come from him and it’s great that we’ll be on this journey together. We’re now excited to continue to develop his huge talent and look forward to seeing him perform with Arsenal in the years to come.”

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