Gabriel Martinelli claims he expected doubts to be raised over his World Cup call-up after his inclusion in Brazil’s squad was branded a ‘disgrace’ and a ‘joke’ this week.
- Click here to join our football Whatsapp group for 24/7 updates
- Erik ten Hag fires warning to Alejandro Garnacho over first-team role at Man Utd
- Guardiola responds to Ferdinand saying he has ‘created a monster’ in Arteta
- ‘If Lionel Messi wins Ballon d’Or, I’ll quit football’ – Ronaldo’s shock statement
The 21-year-old has been named in Brazil’s 26-man squad for their World Cup campaign in Qatar which starts against Serbia on November 24.
But this week, former Brazil midfielder Neto blasted the decision to take Martinelli to the World Cup and suggested Flamengo forward Gabriel Barbosa, who has scored 29 goals in 62 matches this year, should have gone instead.
‘I think this is normal,’ Martinelli told ESPN Brasil. ‘Some people in Brazil don’t know me, and it’s also normal to say that other players deserved to be there. But I’m pretty cool about it. I think this is normal.
‘I know what I’m doing at my club, I know my ability and I know what I can do.
‘And you can be sure that I will do my best for the Brazilian team, in whatever I can help the team I will help. It will be a great experience for me.’
Asked about the reaction he received at Arsenal after his World Cup call-up, Martinelli said: ‘Everyone was very happy for us to be in the World Cup.
‘It’s good for Arsenal too, to have players in the World Cup. And everyone was very happy, we are a very united team.
‘Today there was also the call-up of Bukayo [Saka], Aaron [Ramsdale] and Ben [White], so we are happy for each other.
‘We know that we are at the top of the Premier League, but this is just the beginning, and that we still have a lot of work to do.’
