Man Utd rejected chance to sign Arsenal starlet Gabriel Martinelli… and he could come back to haunt them on Monday

MANCHESTER UNITED snubbed the chance to sign Arsenal starlet Gabriel Martinelli – and the decision could come back to haunt them next week.

United had been tracking the highly-rated teenager along with a host of other top clubs in Europe and beat them all to inviting him over for a trial.

Martinelli says he made four trips from his home in Brazil to train with United’s youth team – including linking up with Mason Greenwood.

But the Red Devils decided against offering him a deal – with Arsenal snapping him up ahead of Barcelona and Real Madrid.

And after scoring twice for the Gunners in their Carabao Cup win over Nottingham Forest, Martinelli is pushing for a run-out against United at Old Trafford on Monday.

Martinelli said of United: “Between 2015 and 2017 I went there four times and trained for about 15 days.

“I asked to take a picture with [Patrice] Evra, [Marouane] Fellaini and other guys.

“Pogba knew I was Brazilian and asked if everything was okay with me and where I was playing. We took a picture together.”

Martinelli completed his move from Ituana in Brazil this summer, with manager Unai Emery looking to bring him into his first team plans as soon as possible.

He came on to make his debut in the opening day win at Newcastle but since then has forced to settle for being an unused sub.

But that changed in midweek when he stole the show with an impressive double against Championship side Forest.

With Alexandre Lacazette struggling to bit fit, it means Martinelli is now almost certain to be on the bench for United – waiting in the wings to come on and prove how good he is.