Forgotten Arsenal star set to have loan contract ripped up six months early after playing just 149 minutes all season

MARQUINHOS could see his spell in France come to a premature end after playing 149 minutes this season.

The forgotten Arsenal star was loaned out to FC Nantes in the summer window after failing to assert himself in north London.

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Since arriving in Ligue 1 things have not gone according to plan for the 20-year-old with a lack of form impacting his game time.

Marquinhos has featured just seven times in the league this season and has started only once.

And now French outlet have reported that the winger may leave FC Nantes in January, despite his contact lasting until the end of the season.

They cite a lack of playing time as one of the potential reasons behind the early termination.

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Marquinhos has failed to score and provided just one assist so far this season.

He wants to take part in the South America pre-Olympic tournament from January 20 to February 11, which Nantes are against, and this is being used as one of the reasons for the early end to his loan spell.

If he was to be sent back to Arsenal it's unlikely he would be any use to Mikel Arteta with the Gunners having previously placed him out on loan.

In addition, Arsenal already possess ample talent in his position, in the form of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and a resurging Kai Havertz.

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Marquinhos played six times for Arsenal's first-team, registering a goal and an assist on his 2022 debut, which came in a Europa League win over FC Zurich.

However, he wasn't able to hold down a starting spot, racking up just one minute of Premier League football.

The Gunners' then loaned him out to Championship side  in the second half of last season, where he made only 11 appearances.

He had spent his career at Brazilian side Sao Paulo before his switch to England, playing 42 times for his boyhood club.

Marquinhos won the Campeonato Paulista with Sao Paulo in 2021 and the Pan American Games with Brazil U23s last year.