AS Roma, Juventus and Galatasaray push for Gabriel Martinelli as Arsenal set asking price
Gabriel Martinelli is emerging as one of the biggest potential exits from Arsenal this summer, with AS Roma, Juventus and Galatasaray all exploring a move for the Brazilian forward. The North London club are open to a sale if their valuation is met and a replacement is secured in time.
Arsenal are understood to be ready to consider bids in the region of €55 million for the 25-year-old. Any deal, however, is unlikely to progress quickly: the club’s stance is that Martinelli will only be allowed to leave if a suitable attacking reinforcement is lined up, ensuring Mikel Arteta is not left short in the final third.
Last season under Arteta, Martinelli featured 53 times in all competitions but started just 25 of those matches. He contributed 10 goals and four assists across the Champions League and FA Cup, yet his league output dropped significantly, with only one goal and four assists in the Premier League. That reduced impact, combined with Arsenal’s need to balance the squad and potentially raise funds, has naturally led to questions about his long-term role at the Emirates.
Juventus: ideal tactical fit, but different deal structure
Juventus view Martinelli as an excellent profile for Luciano Spalletti’s setup. His acceleration, direct running at defenders and willingness to press and track back fit well with the high-intensity style Spalletti prefers from his wide players. The Turin club are looking to refresh their attacking options and see the Brazilian as someone who can play on either flank and even operate in more central zones if required.
Despite that admiration, Juventus are not currently in a position to match Arsenal’s preferred structure. Their plan is to propose an initial loan deal with an option to buy, which could become an obligation if certain performance-related criteria are triggered, such as appearances, goals or qualification for European competitions.
Arsenal, by contrast, favour an outright permanent sale if they are to lose one of their established forwards. They want guaranteed revenue to reinvest in a replacement rather than tying a key asset to conditional clauses. This fundamental difference in approach is one of the first major stumbling blocks in Juventus’ pursuit.
Roma: early contacts and financial constraints
Roma have also stepped into the conversation, making initial approaches through intermediaries to gauge the conditions of a possible transfer. The club are keen to add more pace and unpredictability to their frontline and consider Martinelli a player who could immediately raise their attacking ceiling.
However, Roma’s room for manoeuvre is limited. Matching Arsenal’s €55 million valuation is likely to be challenging, and their strategy would revolve around negotiating that figure down or proposing a structure with instalments and bonuses. On top of the fee, there is a sizeable discrepancy on personal terms. Martinelli is believed to be looking for wages in the region of €11 million per season, whereas Roma’s current salary ceiling sits closer to €9 million.
Bridging that gap would either require Roma to adjust their internal wage structure or to find creative solutions such as longer contracts or performance-related add-ons. Both the fee and salary dimensions mean that, while the interest is genuine, a deal is far from straightforward.
Galatasaray: Leao alternative with budget limits
Galatasaray are the third serious contender, though their pursuit is closely tied to developments elsewhere. The Turkish champions are primarily chasing Rafael Leao, but are fully aware of the difficulty of prising the Portuguese star away from AC Milan. Martinelli has been identified as their main fallback option if that move fails.
From a sporting perspective, Martinelli would be a marquee signing for Galatasaray, bringing Champions League experience, pressing intensity and individual flair on the wing. Financially, however, the gap is considerable. Galatasaray are understood to value a possible transfer at roughly $46.5 million, which falls well short of Arsenal’s €55 million demand. On top of that, meeting Martinelli’s wage expectations would represent a major commitment in the context of the Turkish league’s broader financial landscape.
Arsenal’s position: open to a sale, but on their terms
The fact that Arsenal are prepared to listen to substantial offers indicates that Martinelli is no longer regarded as completely untouchable within the squad hierarchy. That does not mean they are actively pushing him out. Rather, the club are recognising the need to make hard choices as they look to refresh the team while staying within financial regulations.
The insistence on signing a replacement first is central to their stance. Letting go of a versatile, experienced attacker without bringing in another forward would expose Arteta to unnecessary risk over a long season that includes domestic and European commitments. Martinelli is capable of playing across the front line, and replacing that flexibility is not a trivial task.
Why clubs are drawn to Martinelli
Despite a quieter league campaign, Martinelli remains an appealing prospect for top clubs. At 25, he combines several seasons of Premier League and European experience with plenty of years still ahead of him. His playing style – explosive acceleration, aggressive dribbling, and relentless pressing off the ball – fits the modern demand for forwards who contribute in all phases of play, not just in the penalty area.
Moreover, his track record in big matches, particularly in European competition, suggests he can handle pressure and high-intensity environments. Clubs like Juventus, Roma and Galatasaray see a player who could become either a centrepiece of a new project or a major upgrade in an already competitive squad.
What Martinelli’s departure would mean for Arsenal
If Martinelli were to leave, Arsenal would not only lose a starter or rotation option but also one of the few attackers in the squad who consistently stretches defences with runs in behind. His ability to carry the ball over distance and drag full-backs out of position opens space for midfield runners and overlapping defenders.
A sale would therefore shape Arsenal’s recruitment strategy. They would likely need to target a forward with similar dynamism, or alternatively restructure their attacking patterns to rely less on wide isolation and more on combinations through central areas. Financially, €55 million would give the club a solid budget to bring in a younger talent or a more established name, but replacing a player already integrated into Arteta’s system always carries risk.
Tactical fit at the interested clubs
From a tactical standpoint, each of the three interested clubs would offer Martinelli a different type of challenge:
– At Juventus, he would likely operate in a high-pressing, possession-focused setup, tasked with both creating and finishing chances while working hard off the ball. His defensive contribution would be highly valued.
– Roma could use him as a focal wide threat, giving him freedom to attack full-backs one-on-one and cut inside onto his stronger foot. The Italian league’s tactical nature might also help refine his decision-making in the final third.
– Galatasaray would probably make him one of the main stars of the team, expecting him to deliver goals and assists consistently while driving their ambition in European competitions.
In all three cases, regular starts and a more central role in the project could help revive his numbers after a somewhat muted domestic campaign in England.
Financial and timing pressures
As the transfer window moves toward its final stages, timing will become increasingly important. Arsenal cannot afford to sell late without having secured a replacement, while buying clubs know that the closer the deadline approaches, the more complicated negotiations become. Juventus’ preference for an initial loan, Roma’s limitations in both fee and wages, and Galatasaray’s lower valuation all suggest that, for now, none of the suitors has fully matched Arsenal’s demands.
That opens the possibility that Martinelli remains in North London beyond the deadline, either to fight for his place again or to revisit his situation in a future window when the market environment may be different.
Could Martinelli stay and bounce back?
A scenario in which Martinelli stays should not be dismissed. Arteta has previously shown faith in him during dips in form, and competition for attacking spots has often brought out improvements in individual players. With Arsenal still aiming to challenge domestically and in Europe, depth in attack is crucial.
If no club is willing or able to bridge the financial gap and meet both Arsenal’s fee and the player’s personal terms, Martinelli could use the situation as motivation to re-establish himself as an undisputed starter. A strong season would not only help Arsenal but also potentially increase his market value and expand his options in future windows.
Likely outcome as things stand
At present, all three interested clubs face significant obstacles:
– Juventus’ proposed structure does not align with Arsenal’s preference for a straight sale.
– Roma must find a way to address both the transfer fee and the wage demands.
– Galatasaray’s valuation remains well below what Arsenal are asking.
Unless one of them substantially improves its financial proposal – or another club enters the race with a more straightforward offer – the most realistic outcome is that Gabriel Martinelli stays at the Emirates for at least one more season, with his future to be reassessed once the club’s attacking reshuffle is clearer.