“It was a very big disappointment. I only wanted to join Manchester United because I was a fan. But when I went to old Trafford, what the club did was so disgusting as they sign him instead of me. It makes you anxious…” – Gabriel Martinelli opens up on failed Manchester United trial.

Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli has opened up about his failed Manchester United trial as a youngster.Martinelli, 22, had several visits to United during his academy years, with the last of those being at the age of 17.However, the winger was never admitted into the academy at Old Trafford during his time with Brazilian fourth-tier club Ituano.

The now-Arsenal star has recalled the difficulties he faced on trialing for ‘a club the size of Manchester United’ but believes that it happened for a reason.“I was hoping… when you get a trial, you think it’s going to work out. And at a club the size of Manchester United, it makes you anxious,” he told ESPN Brazil.“But things happen for a reason. It wasn’t where I was supposed to be, it was at Arsenal. And everything worked out for me to go to Arsenal.”

The Brazilian would eventually move to Arsenal in 2019 before emerging as a first-team regular under current manager Mikel Arteta.Martinelli has seven goals and three assists so far this season, with The Gunners sitting third in the Premier League table.United are meanwhile in sixth-place, five points away from Aston Villa who they beat 2-1 last weekend.