Gabriel Martinelli was rewarded for his excellent Arsenal form yesterday with a place in the Brazil World Cup squad.
The £47,000-a-week man was called up by Tite after scoring five goals in 13 Premier League games so far this season, while also providing two assists.
However, while Mikel Arteta and the Martinelli family will be delighted, not everybody is pleased.
Gabriel Martinelli questioned by journalist
Well, Brazilian journalist Neto does not approve of the 21-year-old being named in the World Cup squad, and believes Gabriel Barbosa deserved to be included instead.
As quoted by ESPN, Neto said: “This is a shame, a joke! What is Martinelli’s story? 33 career goals. This is a shame, a lack of respect for football.
“Doing this with football shows that you don’t deserve the position you are in. Calling up Martinelli and not calling up Gabigol is heresy, a lack of respect. The biggest shame of all the call-ups.”
Talk about an overreaction.
Martinelli has been among the best players in the Premier League so far this season, whereas Barbosa – often known at Gabigol – has been playing his football over in Brazil.
The 26-year-old has done well with 29 goals in all competitions, but with all due respect, the competitiveness of the Brazilian Série A cannot be compared to the rigours of the Premier League.
Criticism of Arsenal gem is absurd
We cannot understand what Neto is thinking.
While he is more than entitled to feel Gabigol should have made the squad, the manner in which he speaks about Martinelli is awful ahead of a World Cup – especially as it will be the Arsenal No.11’s first taste of the tournament.
If Martinelli has read these comments, it may affect his confidence levels, and therefore his chances of doing well for Brazil in Qatar.
If Neto really wants to see Brazil do well at the World Cup, he should get behind every player selected by Tite, rather than tear them apart.
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