Arsenal ace Gabriel Martinelli admits he could switch nationality from Brazilian to Italian
GABRIEL MARTINELLI is open to the possibility of representing Italy at international level.
Born in the suburbs of Sao Paulo, the Arsenal striker is yet to make his senior debut for Brazil.
Martinelli qualifies for the Azzurri through his father and has been sounded out by the Italian FA before.
Now he has admitted that nothing is settled, should either side consider calling him up.
Martinelli told DAZN Brazil: "I am Brazilian and my dream, of course, is to play for Brazil.
"But I could also play for Italy and nothing has been decided.
";I haven’t received a call from Brazil yet."
Brazil boss Tite brought the teenager into his team's training camp before the Copa America last summer.
That was followed with the Under-23 side calling Martinelli up for November's Tenerife Tournament which saw him earn two caps en route to losing the final against Argentina.
It isn't hard to see why either side would want to make the forward one of their own for the coming months and years.
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In his debut year in English football, the 18-year-old has bagged eight goals in 19 appearances - scoring for the first time in the Premier League at West Ham last month.
But FIFA rules stipulate that a player is not locked in to playing for either nation until he makes a competitive appearance.
With Italy only playing friendlies until Euro 2020, his best bet may be September's Nations League.
Brazil, on the other hand, kick off their World Cup qualifying campaign in March before another summer Copa America.