‘He will be an unbelievable player’: £22m man tips Arsenal teenager for superstardom

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Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno is the latest individual to tip Gunners youngster Gabriel Martinelli for superstardom, in conversation with Soccer AM.

Martinelli, who joined Arsenal from Brazilian side Ituano FC last summer for £6million, has thoroughly impressed at the North London club since his arrival.

With 10 goals and four assists from 26 Gunners appearances, he has become the first teenage goalscorer to reach double figures for Arsenal since Nicolas Anelka in 1998-99.

Martinelli has already received plenty of plaudits, with the likes of Arsenal legend Bob Wilson calling him “unbelievable” and praising his “god-given” ability (Omnisport).

Cesc Fabregas, meanwhile, has named the Brazilian as the one player in the current Arsenal squad he wished he could be playing with now, and Leno has now joined in with the praise.

“He can become a world class player,” the £22million man told Soccer AM. “World class 100 per cent because he has talent, he has quality. But I think his biggest strength is his mentality. He is working unbelievably [hard].

“I remember in our bad time when we struggled a lot, he was working so hard, he was one of the leaders and at 18 years old he came from nowhere, nobody knew him before and to play like this, to behave like this is very good to see. I think if he keeps going like this he will be an unbelievable player.”

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Despite not turning 19 until June, Martinelli has proven he’s a cut above and has been one of Arsenal’s most impressive performers this season.

From plaudits coming his way from his fellow footballing peers and reports of stunning his coaches (Daily Star) to links with the likes of Real Madrid (not that the Gunners will let him go that easily of course), it looks as though the Brazilian really has what it takes to become a superstar.