Kelechi Nwakali has revealed that an Arsenal director told him that there was little or no spectators in the stands when the club scouted Brazilian teenage sensation Gabriel Martinelli.
The Gunners have unearthed a gem in Martinelli, with the 18-year-old earning rave reviews for his performances since his move to the Emirates Stadium last summer.
The striker was turning out for Ituano, who were then playing in the Brazilian fourth-tier, when he was spotted by an Arsenal scout.
Nwakali noted that Nigeria always want to win international competitions despite the sorry state of the Nigerian Professional Football League and to buttress his point he made reference to Arsenal's capture of Martinelli.
In an Instagram conversation with Eagles Tracker, Nwakali said : "When you go to Brazil they have their leagues going on well. Martinelli the player Arsenal signed was from fourth division, you can imagine.
"The day I was talking to the Arsenal club director, he said that the day they scouted him, nobody was watching the game.
"They went there to see if they could sign a player".
"The day I was talking to the Arsenal club director, he said that the day they scouted him, nobody was watching the game.
"They went there to see if they could sign a player".
Martinelli trained with Spanish giants Barcelona and Manchester United before agreeing to join Arsenal.
Igho Kingsley
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All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com
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