Via Graeme Bailey
Arsenal were initially not keen on including a purchase clause in Marquinhos’ Fluminense contract but the Premier League giants changed their stance after being persuaded by the player’s camp.
HITC Football understands that, two-and-a-half years after Arsenal won the race to sign Marquinhos in a £3 million deal from Sao Paulo, the Brazil Under 23 international is on his way back home.
Marquinhos has agreed terms with Copa Libertadores champions Fluminense. And while Arsenal were initially against the idea of including an option-to-buy clause in the 20-year-old’s contract, HITC has been informed that they were persuaded to perform a U-turn by the winger himself.
Arsenal agree to let Marquinhos join Fluminense
As things stand, it is not certain exactly how much Arsenal could earn from Marquinhos’ permanent departure.
The one-time Wolves and Atletico Madrid target made a bright start to his career in England – scoring and assisting on debut against FC Zurich in the Europa League – but has struggled to build on that early promise, not helped by the emergence of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli as two of the planet’s brightest forward talents.
Marquinhos also struggled to make an impact during loan spells at Norwich City and Nantes. His time at the former was cut short ahead of schedule last month, making only seven Ligue 1 appearances while failing to score or assist a single goal.
HITC understands that Arsenal had high hopes for Marquinhos but now appear ready to cut their losses, the player keen on a return to his South American roots.
Fluminense coach Fernando Diniz admitted on Friday that Marquinhos was ‘probably’ going to join a team still high off that dramatic victory over Boca Juniors in the Copa Libertadores final before Christmas.
A return to Brazil close
Marquinhos joins Andre Trindade at Fluminense. The highly-rated midfielder stays put despite talks with Fulham and a £26 million bid from Liverpool.
“Some great performances on show,” Arsenal legend Martin Keown told BT after Marquinhos opened the scoring vs Zurich with a gorgeous left-footed finish reminiscent of a certain number seven.
“Marquinhos looks like a take-two of Saka, doesn’t he. Left-footed player, plays on that right wing. One assist, one goal… That’s a real plus for the manager because he can look upon him now and say; ‘OK, we can bring you in if we need him’.
“He’s got a huge future ahead of him. He looked like a (Serge) Gnabry-type player. Short, stocky, really explosive pace, and very classy.”
The post Sources; 20-year-old persuades Arsenal to let him leave, once labelled Saka 2.0 appeared first on HITC.
from HITC https://ift.tt/lJt16Qc
No comments: