Brazil Boss Waxes Lyrical On Martinelli After Including Him In World Cup Squad

Brazil boss Tite is a Martinelli fan…

Brazil manager Tite waxed lyrical on Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli after including the 21-year-old in his World Cup squad ahead of this month’s tournament.

Martinelli’s inclusion was in question after the winger was left out of the last Brazil squad in September alongside Arsenal teammates Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel.

However, it seemed that squad had no bearing on Tite’s final thoughts with Jesus and Martinelli making the final lists among nine forwards selected.

Martinelli has been in sensational form this season, netting five times already in the Premier League – one short of his total tally last term.

The forward positions of Brazil’s squad are arguably the most competitive in world football and with Martinelli getting the nod, Tite pointed towards the former Ituano’s talent’s explosive form.

“Gabriel Martinelli’s role: Outward, winger, aggressive,” Tite was quoted as saying (via The Evening Standard).

He’s been one of the highlights at Arsenal, at the top of the Premier League.

“A player of individual plays, of transitions in speed. Who was with us in two call-ups, who’s been maintaining this high level.

“In this competition, we say that these athletes compete at a high level. Others could have been called up, and it would have been fully fair. And there are arguments for others that could be called, that’s also true.”

Martinelli is seen as an understudy to Vinicius Jr. in the squad and any minutes will come if and when the Real Madrid star is given a break.

In a major international tournament, that will likely only come if Brazil qualifies for the last 16 with a game to spare in the group stage.

Despite that, Martinelli has spoken publicly about how much of a dream it would be to reach the Qatar finals and that can only do his confidence the world of good.