Manchester United have taken 16-year-old Brazilian wonderkid Gabriel Martinelli on trial as the Red Devils continue their rapid youth recruitment.
According to Manchester Evening News, Manchester United have taken up 16-year-old Brazilian wonderkid Gabriel Martinelli on trial ahead of a possible permanent move to Old Trafford. The youngster has been on trial at the club previously as well and has been brought in again for the coaches to take a closer look.
Gabriel Martinelli is a 16-year-old attacker who currently plies his trade for Brazilian outfit Ituano and is touted as a promising forward back in his homeland. The player in fact, has wasted no time and travelled with the United Under-17s to face Lincoln City at Sincil Bank on Wednesday evening as the youth squad continued their pre-season preparations.
ACADEMY NEWS: Gabriel Martinelli is a 16yo Brazilian triallist… pic.twitter.com/qpCwidTznl
— The MUFC Academy ? (@mrmujac) July 26, 2017
The teenager came on in the second half in place of Nishan Burkart, a last-season signing, and played almost half-an-hour for the Red Devils as the youth squad took a 2-0 win over a hardworking Lincoln City, thanks to late goals from Brandon Williams and Millen Baars.
The match also rewrote history as the side became the first United team in 62 years to set foot inside the Lincoln City’s home ground. And as 2,240 fans saw their home side go toe-to-toe and give stiff competition to the youth team, the fans may have already caught a glimpse of United’s potential signing in Martinelli.
Manchester United have a rich history of recruiting from the football-crazy nation and had earlier brought in Matheus Marcosi, another Brazilian – he plied his trade for Deportivo Brasil – on trial previously during the last season.
TRIALIST: 16 year old Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli played 30 mins last night v Lincoln. He plays for Ituano in Brazil
— Man Utd News ? (@NewManUtdNews) July 27, 2017
The Red Devils have continued to recruit heavily at the youth level this summer as well. The club has already taken in 10 new youngsters into the squad including some big names like Millen Baars, Di’Shon Bernard, Aliou Traore, Ethan Galbraith and more.
And now, Gabriel Martinelli would hope to impress the United coaches enough to earn a permanent move to the club. It will be interesting to see if the 16-year-old manages to do just that or leave the club for Brazil without a shot at a permanent deal at Manchester United.
