'I'll give everything for this badge' - Martinelli's first Al Hilal interview
Not long after Ollie Watkins was confirmed, Al Hilal announced the signing of another star from the English Premier League - Gabriel Martinelli from Arsenal.
The electric winger, 25, joins the early 2026-27 Roshn Saudi League leaders on a four-year deal.
Clearly excited with his latest career move, Martinelli sat down with the Al Hilal official club media to discuss why the Saudi top flight made sense.
And, after seven seasons in England concluded by helping Arsenal be crowned Premier League champions in May, the Brazil international is now focused on maintaining that winning feeling in the Kingdom.
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On choosing Al Hilal
“Yeah, it was a big decision for me. Of course, I talked to my family, my wife, my parents, and everyone was really happy. It's a big move. I'm really excited; I'm happy to be here. I just want to be with the boys on the pitch and play my football.”
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On Al Hilal the club
“I was watching the [2025 FIFA] Club World Cup and Al Hilal did super well - super, super well winning against [Manchester] City. It was a great game to watch. And I could see the intensity that the team put in the game and the duels and everything. So that helped me to take the decision because we can compete against the big clubs in Europe as well.”
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On the lure of Al Hilal
“[It’s] a bit of everything. I was talking to my wife the other day and so many fans were texting us on Instagram. And that's definitely something that made us really happy because it's a club that won last year.
“And the team has so many good players, the coach... I've heard so many good things about the coach and the team. And I watched a bit of the game [Tuesday's 3-0 win at home to Al Ahli] and it was so intense in everything they did in the game.”
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On delivering for Al Hilal
“That's something that, straight away when I was speaking to [Technical Director] Simon [Francis], it's something really important for the club and for me, as well. We want to win titles. I'm here to win titles for the football club and to help my teammates and to make the fans happy."
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His message to Al Hilal fans
“Is that they have a player here now that is willing to give everything for this badge and my family. I'll fight for every single ball in the game and I'm going to give my best, and to try my best, to win football matches for this football club - and to win titles as well.”
