Arsenal’s Marquinhos could find himself playing a brand new role on loan at Fluminense with the Premier League loanee an option to slot in at right-back.
Throughout his time at Arsenal, Corinthians and during those loan spells at Nantes and Norwich City, the young Brazilian has been utilised mostly on the right wing but also on the left and, at times, in a more central role.
Never before, however, has Marquinhos lined up in defence.
That could change when Fluminense travel to Flamengo this weekend, however. An injury to first-choice right-back Samuel Xavier Brito, according to reporter Vene Casagrande, may see Marquinhos deployed as a right-back for the Copa Libertadores champions.
A brand-new role for Arsenal loanee
Given that he is a left-footer by trade – preferring to cut in from the right like his former Arsenal team-mate Bukayo Saka – it is tempting to wonder how Marquinhos will adapt, not only to a more defensively-minded role but also as a southpaw playing in a position where he will be expected to hold the width on the right-hand flank.
Marquinhos joined Arsenal from Corinthians for just £3.5 million back in 2022, The Gunners fighting off competition from the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Atletico Madrid.
The 20-year-old scored a fine goal against FC Zurich on his debut under Mikel Arteta in the Europa League but that is about as good as things got for him in England, a disappointing loan spell at Norwich doing his chances of more regular minutes no favours at a time in which Saka was blossoming from a good player into a great one.
“This kid is special,” former Norwich hero Dean Ashton told the EFL Highlights Show before Marquinhos’ time at Carrow Road went south. “He’s a wonderful talent. A special left foot.”
‘Special left foot’
HITC Football understands that Arsenal did not want to include an option-to-buy clause in Marquinhos’ Fluminense contract initially. They were persuaded to backtrack on that stance, however, with the youngster seemingly keen on a clean break and a fresh start back in Brazil.
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