Gabriel Martinelli has opened up on his collapsed trials by Manchester United and Barcelona.
Arsenal star revealed how he got rejected by the European giants and just five months later made a £6million move to the Emirates.
Martinelli, who recently made it into Brazil's 26-man World Cup squad, bagged five goals and two assists in his Premier League 14 matches so far.
The 21-year-old is one of the key players for Mikel Arteta helping his side lead the domestic table with 37 points and a five-point gap ahead the second-placed Manchester City.
Speaking to Player’s Tribune's YouTube channel ahead of the Mundial, the forward admitted he believes things 'happen for a reason' and it was his faith to join the Gunners in 2019.
“I thank God that I came to Arsenal in 2019. I really believe that things happen for a reason, and I’m so happy here. It’s funny to look back now, because I could so easily have ended up somewhere else.
“There was a project with Manchester United. I did some trials there. It didn’t work out but I went there four or five times.
“The at the end of the year, I went to La Masia in Barcelona. I practised with Ansu Fati when I went there. We became friends and I stayed there for 15 days. But for or five months later, Arsenal signed me.” added the Brazil international.
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