Gabriel Martinelli’s old coach recalls when Arsenal star had to dash from wild celebrations in Brazil to finish homework
IT was the finest moment of Gabriel Martinelli’s brief career and the teenage striking sensation was desperate to get home.
Martinelli had just helped Ituano to a stunning win over Sao Paulo in Brazil’s Campeonato Paulista and the dressing room was bouncing with players making plans to celebrate.
The then 16-year-old had a few of his own, too . . . but first he needed permission from his coach to be released from the team hotel.
For his request did not involve partying or a fancy restaurant — but heading back to his parent’s house, so he could finish his homework and avoid getting into trouble at school!
It was a moment so bizarre it is almost unbelievable, for a youngster who, little over 12 months later, had made a Premier League debut for Arsenal.
Yet for Vinicius Bergantin, the Ituano coach who had given Martinelli his first-team break in Brazil, it was no great shock — he always knew there was something different about the kid.
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Bergantin revealed: “That day will stick in my memory for the rest of my life, after we’d beaten Sao Paulo.
“It was a Sunday and everybody in the dressing room was so happy.
“The players had the rest of the day free to see their families or friends in Sao Paulo, to do whatever they wanted.
“But once Gabriel had a shower he approached and said, ‘Coach, can I ask you a favour? Can I go back to Itu?’.
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“I asked him why and he said, ‘I have to go to school on Monday morning’.
“He told me he still had homework to finish and didn’t want to get in trouble for not doing it!
“He said, ‘My father is outside in his car to take me back’.
“So I went out and there was Gabriel’s father Joao, waiting for him.
“It was such a responsible attitude for a young boy.
“Another player might have wanted to celebrate the win but he didn’t.
“He was determined to finish high school.”
Martinelli had long been earmarked as a special talent by Ituano coaches and got his chance back in 2018 as Bergantin wanted to blood some youngsters, in the closing games.
Yet, ironically, he had to convince Ituano president Juninho, the former Middlesbrough and Brazil star, that the gangly young forward was up to it.
Bergantin said: “We were in the final three or four games, with nothing to play for and I wanted to plan for the next season and see some of the players from the academy.
“Gabriel was a very thin, lanky boy with huge long legs but I saw a strong mentality and a confidence that he was going to be a superstar.
“Some people thought I was out of my mind, throwing a young boy to the sharks and he wouldn’t perform against giants like Palmeiras, Santos or Corinthians.
“Juninho was the Ituano owner and I must admit he was very conservative at first and scared Gabriel was too young.
I told him Gabriel had to play, he was the best attacker we had and although Juninho was reluctant, fair play that he respected my decision and backed me up.”
After his initial chances from the bench, the following season he was a regular starter — and just 14 games later he was off to Arsenal for £6million.
Now, at 20, he is tearing it up as the brightest young Gunner and in January had Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp raving: “Remember the name Martinelli… he’s an outstanding player.”
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Bergantin added: “He never had a problem adapting to the demands, despite being so young and would drive the defenders nuts.
“Players tried to kick him out of the park and every time Gabriel was on the pitch the number of yellow cards increased rapidly but he was never scared.
“I had played at the top level in Brazil and eight years in the Bundesliga, so I really trusted my judgment — and when Arsenal bought him, time proved that I was right.
“Gabriel has the power of former Brazil player Oscar, reads a game like Franck Ribery and is the man Arsenal should build the team around.
“He always dreamed he would be big in football and I am proud to be the person who saw the same dream as him.”