Why Arsenal have advantage over Barcelona and Real Madrid for 'new Neymar'

20 Oct 2022 22:34 BST
3 min read

Gilberto Silva has hinted that Arsenal could have the advantage over some of Europe’s top clubs in signing Brazilian wonderkid Endrick, who has been labelled the ‘new Neymar’.

Endrick is among the most coveted talents in the world after rising to stardom while playing for the youth teams of Brazil and his club Palmeiras, where he recently made his first-team debut.

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The 16-year-old cannot sign for a team outside of Brazil until he turns 18, with Real Madrid and Barcelona among the dozens of clubs interested in activating the rumoured €60 million release clause in his contract.

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However, Arsenal legend Gilberto believes the Gunners could have the upper hand in the pursuit of Endrick due to the presence of director Edu Gaspar, who already utilised connections in his native Brazil to sign teenager Marquinhos during the summer.

“We know the importance in football of being well connected, to people, clubs, sporting directors, presidents of the club,” Gilberto told metro.co.uk. “This is how things happen.”

Along with Marquinhos and Edu, Arsenal already have a big Brazilian contingent at the club in Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli.

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Gilberto: Martinelli should stay at Arsenal

Gilberto also gave his advice to Martinelli, who is out of contract at Arsenal in 2024 and is being tracked by clubs such as Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.

Gilberto said: “Being at the club the last couple of years, he [Martinelli] understands how important it is to be at the club, how important the club is for his career and his progress where everyone has been patient with him and helping him to grow up.

“And I hope he is very clear about this. Arsenal is a great club for young players. When I was there, I have seen players when they reach a certain level at the club and the opportunity for them to stay longer comes, they decide to leave and their career was not the same afterwards. If you go back to the past you see this with a list of players.

“But I think for him now, he has got the support of the manager. He is playing in a very good team, he is at a fantastic club. I think Arsenal will not face a challenge [in keeping him].

“Of course it will not be easy especially when people start to talk about clubs wanting to take him at this stage, but I think Arsenal will be convinced they can keep him, I’m sure they will.”