Arsenal Star, Martinelli World Cup Call-Up Causes Disagreement In Brazil

As they sit atop the EPL table, his performance is one of the reasons they are considered serious title challengers now.

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Martinelli will hope to play a part in the competition, which kicks off in a matter of days. However, back home some fans and pundits do not believe he should have been taken ahead of other attackers.

“This is a shame, a joke! I feel ashamed! Not because of Dani Alves’ story. What is Martinelli’s story? 33 career goals. This is a shame, a lack of respect for football. It shows how dirty football is, it’s dishonorable. It’s happened to me and you (Velloso) because we didn’t go to the World Cup because we didn’t play in Rio de Janeiro,” said  Neto via ESPN Brasil.

“Doing this with football shows that you don’t deserve the position you are in. Calling up Martinelli and not calling up Gabigol is heresy, a lack of respect.”

The Brazilian national team managers know every player in their pool and what role they could play in the team.

If they find Martinelli better-suited for a role in it, that decision should be respected.

The Arsenal man now has to perform during the competition to justify his inclusion in the squad.

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Martinelli is part of a star-studded nine-man attack that also includes Antony (Manchester United), Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal), Neymar (PSG), Pedro (Flamengo), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Richarlison (Tottenham Hotspur), and Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid).

Gabriel Jesus also came into Neto’s firing line after he first accused the striker of joining a ‘small club’ in Arsenal before he questioned his spot in the final 26-man squad.

‘How many goals has Gabriel Jesus scored in these last games? Oh, none,’ Neto said.

‘In the World Cup? Zero. In the qualifiers? Zero. He hasn’t scored in eight games.’