Over the past week, there’s been noise coming out of Saudi Arabia suggesting Al Nassr were preparing to go all-in for the Brazilian winger, reportedly requesting around £73 million from the country’s sovereign wealth fund to make a formal bid.
That would’ve been a blockbuster move but according to all the legit sources close to Arsenal and the player, nothing’s happening. Not now, not anytime soon.
Fabrizio Romano, one of the most trusted voices in the transfer world, has now shut the door on the talk completely.
“Understand reports about Gabriel Martinelli and Al Nassr are currently wide of the mark,” he posted on X.“No talks are taking place with the Saudi Pro League side, as Al Nassr are now working on different targets in the winger position.”
That’s that, then. No offer. No negotiations. No move.
Arsenal Focused on Reinforcements, Not Departures
Arsenal fans who were getting a bit worried can breathe again. Martinelli remains a core part of Mikel Arteta’s setup, and there’s been no indication from the club that they’re open to letting him go.
The club has other plans this summer and they’re more about adding than subtracting.
The Gunners have already made solid progress with a couple of targets. Talks are active around Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting, and Arsenal are also weighing up a move for Chelsea’s Noni Madueke.
Personal terms with both players are reportedly not an issue. Now it’s just a matter of whether Arsenal actually pull the trigger on one or both deals.
There’s also some interest in Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace, and Real Madrid's Rodrygo has been linked too.
But those are more complicated, especially Rodrygo’s situation, which won’t really be clear until Madrid wrap up their Club World Cup campaign later this month.
But according to David Ornstein, a move for a top left winger is only likely if Martinelli leaves. And from what he said recently on The Athletic FC Podcast, that doesn’t look to be on the cards.
“Arsenal always wanted to strengthen on the left wing, but they’ve got Gabriel Martinelli there,” said Ornstein. “If he were to leave, then you could see them bringing in a top left-sided winger. If he’s not to leave, I don’t think so.”
He also mentioned that names like Rodrygo and Anthony Gordon have been discussed, but those are all fallback options, depending on whether Martinelli stays. So with him staying, don’t expect Arsenal to be spending £80m+ on a wide forward.
Where Did the Al Nassr Rumour Come From?
The links to Al Nassr didn’t come from nowhere.
Last week, GiveMeSport reported that Saudi club Al Nassr had shown real interest in Martinelli and were asking for central backing around €85 million from the Saudi Public Investment Fund to fund the move.
That’s the same group that owns 75% of the club and has been behind all their recent high-profile signings, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Aymeric Laporte, and Sadio Mané.
But here’s the key: just because the request went in doesn’t mean the deal was ever close. It looks like Al Nassr may have floated the idea internally, but it didn’t go any further. And Arsenal never sat at the table.
If anything, Al Nassr seem to have shifted their focus to other targets, and one name that keeps coming up is Luis Díaz.
Al Nassr Still Eyeing Diaz, But That’s Complicated Too
Even though Liverpool are publicly unwilling to part ways with Luis Díaz, that hasn’t stopped Saudi clubs and others from circling.
Al Nassr are still said to be interested in the Colombian winger, and they’re not alone.
Barcelona have been quietly monitoring him too, especially if they can offload Raphinha. But it’s Bayern Munich who might have jumped to the front of the queue.
According to BILD, Díaz has already agreed personal terms with the German champions. That’s not confirmed by all sides yet, but if it’s true, Liverpool will likely be under pressure in the next few days.
His current deal at Anfield reportedly pays him significantly less than many of his teammates, and that pay gap has been a point of frustration for some time now.
Díaz has never gone public about being unhappy, but the growing whispers of discontent suggest he might be open to a move if the right offer comes in.
If Bayern manage to secure him, that might kill Al Nassr’s interest. But if Bayern fall short, don’t be surprised if the Saudi club comes back with a massive offer. Either way, it looks like they’ve moved on from Martinelli for good.
Why Arsenal Aren’t Selling Martinelli
It’s not just about holding on to a valuable player. It’s about what Martinelli represents.
He's only 23, so there's still time. Last season was a bit rough. Picked up a few knocks, looked off it some weeks. But the feeling around Arsenal is that he’s not far getting on his leg again. When he’s on it, his pace and directness down that wing is a nightmare for defenders hardly anyone in Europe can match it.
Arteta and the staff still believe in him. They see him as part of the core project not someone to cash in on.
And with the Premier League more competitive than ever, Arsenal can’t afford to weaken one of their strongest positions just for the sake of a payday, no matter how big it is.
As one Arsenal source told Football Insider, “Martinelli is not for sale. That has been made clear to all interested clubs. He’s an important part of the project.”
That about sums it up.
What Next for Arsenal?
Martinelli’s staying, so now the focus shifts who are they actually going for?
They’re clearly working to add firepower up front. The talks with Sporting over Gyökeres are serious, and even though Sporting are holding firm over his release clause rumoured to be around €100m there’s hope something can be worked out.
Gyökeres absolutely tore it up in Portugal. 43 goals in all competition says it all. He’s the kind of striker Arsenal could really use. strong, smart on the ball, presses hard, and can finish with either foot.
Then there’s Noni Madueke. The Chelsea winger hasn’t exactly hit full stride at Stamford Bridge, but Arsenal see something in him. At 22, he’s got raw talent, and the fact that personal terms are already sorted shows that the Gunners are serious.
If Arsenal decide to go for both Madueke and Gyökeres, it could mean big changes for their front line. But if they only go for one, expect the focus to be on the central striker.
No Drama, Just Business
This summer window hasn’t been the loudest for Arsenal, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Sometimes, the smartest moves are the quiet ones the deals that get done without the circus. And in Martinelli’s case, the smart move was to do nothing at all.
Letting him go to Saudi Arabia, even for £73 million, would’ve sent the wrong message. Arsenal aren’t here to cash out. They’re here to compete.
Unless something totally unexpected happens, Martinelli’s still going to be in that number 11 shirt when the season kicks off in August.
What about you, would you have taken the money or kept him? Should Arsenal have entertained the bid or was keeping Martinelli the right call? Let us know in the comments section
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