Arsenal striker Gabriel Martinelli has revealed that his club blocked a chance for him to play for Brazil in pre-Olympics games between January 18 and February 9.
The inform youngster who is eyeing an Olympics squad spot was called to the Selecao team but his club blocked the move owing to lack of fire-power in the squad at the moment.
He has now disclosed that he would have wished to be with the national team if the club had allowed him to go.
“I said that if it was up to me I would play. But we knew it would be difficult. It was a time when I was a starter at Arsenal and people preferred not to let me go,” he said.
“He (Brazil general coordinator Juninho Paulista) called me, spoke to me and congratulated me on what I’m doing. I haven’t been called up yet, but I’m very calm about it.
“We talked a little after he went to the national team. He called me, said that this was the opportunity of my life, that I should give my best because things would go well.”
Martinelli has so far scored ten league goals for the Gunners across all competitions.