It could have all been so different, however, if Manchester United had bothered to make him an offer.
“There was a partnership between Ituano and Manchester United which allowed me to go there every year, for four years, to train with boys my age or older,” Martinelli told the magazine.
“That was nice, because I got a first taste of what English football was like. I met Marouane Fellaini, Patrice Evra and Paul Pogba, and made sure I got a photo with all of them.”
Four Four Two then asked the obvious question – why didn’t he sign for them? “They didn’t make an offer, so I returned to Ituano and kept doing my job there.”
It’s hard to look at Martinelli now and not wonder how any club could turn him away, but, to be honest, I don’t give a toss about that.
All I know is quite a few did, and Arsenal ended up winning as a result.
