Arsenal and Brazil striker, a lifelong fan, keen to play for Corinthians

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Central do Timão

·08 de outubro de 2025

Arsenal and Brazil striker, a lifelong fan, keen to play for Corinthians

By Henrique Pereira / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Discovered in Corinthians' youth academy, Gabriel Martinelli, now 24 years old, is living the dream of many young Brazilian athletes. A forward for Arsenal, one of the giants of the Premier League, the player has established himself as one of the main names of the new generation of the Brazilian National Team. Even while enjoying a great moment in Europe, the athlete keeps his connection with the club that developed him alive and does not hide his desire to return to Timão.

“My relationship with Corinthians has always been very intense. I was born in Parque São Jorge. At six years old, I started playing at Corinthians and my whole childhood, my life, was Corinthians. I played futsal, I played on the field, I spent every day of the week at Parque São Jorge, all day long. My life was there (at the Parque). I am passionate about the club, I try to follow it as much as I can. I only don’t watch when I have a game the next day, because the games are always at 1am, very late. But I always try to watch with my friends,” Martinelli said in an interview with CazéTV.

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Photo: Rafael Ribeiro/ CBF

“Even in the last derby against Palmeiras, (Gabriel) Magalhães went home and we watched it with his friends and mine. Against Palmeiras this year, we did really well, we’re super happy. But, man, at the end of my career I have this dream of returning to Brazil. We’ve already talked (with my dad), we’re going back to Coringão. I have this dream, my dad is a huge Corinthians fan,” he concluded.

This was not the first time the forward showed his affection for Corinthians. Recently, Martinelli watched the derby against Palmeiras in the Copa do Brasil wearing the black-and-white shirt and alongside defender Gabriel Magalhães, his club teammate and also a declared fan of Timão and the National Team. In 2023, during an interview with ESPN, the player also recalled memorable moments shared with his father during the period he played at Terrão.

Martinelli joined Corinthians' youth academy in 2008, at six years old. Between futsal and field soccer, he stayed seven years at Parque São Jorge, where he developed his passion for the Fiel. In 2015, before even turning professional, he left the club to play for Ituano, a decision heavily influenced by his family, as his father had gotten a job in the city in the interior of São Paulo.

Success came quickly. After standing out in the youth ranks and shining in the 2019 Paulista Championship, the forward was transferred to Arsenal, where he remains to this day. For the Brazilian National Team, Martinelli had already been called up to the Under-23 squad before moving to Europe, but his first call-up to the main team happened in 2022. Although he has yet to win titles with the Seleção, he already has two FA Cups and one Community Shield with the London club.

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