Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli has revealed Cristiano Ronaldo was his biggest footballing idol growing up.
The Brazil international has become a key figure for the Gunners in their quest for the Premier League title this season. The 21-year-old joined Arsenal in 2019 from Ituano as a young prospect and has developed into one of the division's best attackers.
Martinelli's inspiration was Ronaldo, who had a big influence on the forward as a youngster playing for Manchester United. The Arsenal winger also paid tribute to his parents for their role in his development.
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"If you were talking about footballers, the person I looked up to was always Cristiano Ronaldo,” Martinelli told Arsenal's official club site. “I used to watch him a lot when I was growing up, I loved his style, but in life, my main inspirations for sure are my parents.
"Back when I was young and still now, they are always there for me. They have helped me in so many ways, from day one, they have always been with me, supporting me, giving me advice and trying to help me.
“My dad played a bit of football when he was younger. He wasn’t professional but he liked to play for fun and he loves the sport.
“So when I was younger I always wanted to play, and my parents would encourage me too. I think my dad always had that dream of having a son that could become a professional footballer.
"My mum as well always encouraged me from day one when I started out in football. They always did everything they could to help me achieve my goals and to become a footballer.”
Martinelli had trials with United as a teenager but he's admitted he felt daunted by the opportunity. In the end, he felt his development was better served at home before he made the jump to English football.
“Yes, I think I was about 13 or 14 when I went to Manchester for the first time, I don’t remember exactly, but I was still young, nobody knew me.
“That was a new experience for me, being away from home. I didn’t like it at first. I wanted to be at home but I would go with my dad to these places and I was a bit scared.
"A different country, a different language that I didn’t speak, so it was hard for me.”
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