Martinelli Rejects Galatasaray Move Amid Arsenal Summer Sales

Gabriel Martinelli has made his stance clear: he does not want to leave Arsenal for Galatasaray this summer, despite a sizeable offer from the Turkish champions.

According to The Athletic, Galatasaray have submitted a bid worth €45 million (£38.4m) for the Brazilian winger. Arsenal are prepared to listen to offers at the right price for some of their attacking options, but on the player’s side there is no interest in pushing the move. His camp have informed the club’s hierarchy that he has no desire to join the Istanbul side in this window.

Martinelli is tied to Arsenal until 2027, with the club holding an option to extend the deal by a further year to 2028. No talks over a fresh renewal have started yet, a detail that inevitably fuels speculation around his long-term role, even if his immediate intention is to stay put.

At 25, he sits in that bracket of players Arsenal could, in theory, cash in on if an irresistible offer arrived. For now, the numbers on the table are not enough to change his mind. He wants to remain in north London.

The wider context is blunt. Arsenal went into this summer knowing they had to sell to balance the books. Leandro Trossard has already departed, joining Besiktas in a €20m deal, while midfielder Christian Norgaard has moved to Everton for £7m. The club still believe more outgoings are required before the window closes.

At the same time, the Gunners have not stood still in attack. They have brought in Greek winger Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge and seriously pursued Brazilian star Vinicius Junior before he signed a new contract with Real Madrid. Competition for wide positions is intensifying, yet Martinelli is not looking for the exit.

His importance over recent seasons underpins that position. Signed from Brazilian side Ituano in 2019, he has amassed 278 first-team appearances and scored 62 goals in Arsenal colours. Last season alone he featured 53 times in all competitions, contributing 11 goals and 7 assists as Arsenal lifted the Premier League title and reached the Champions League final.

Arsenal may still need a major sale to complete their summer equation. For now, though, Martinelli is drawing a line: others can go. He plans to stay and fight for his place in a squad aiming to turn domestic dominance into European glory.