One Arsenal loanee is making the headlines overseas as his future has triggered talks between his parent club and loan club.
It’s difficult to envisage how the future looks for the members of the Arsenal squad who were sent out on loan at the start of 2024/25.
Already, Andrea Berta is set to sanction one exit, as Nuno Tavares is in line to sign for Lazio following a successful loan spell.
Fellow loanee Albert Sambi Lokonga will return to Arsenal provisionally before an anticipated permanent exit, but the duo aren’t the only examples of players expected to depart.
Arsenal in talks with Cruzeiro over Marquinhos’ future
In January, it was announced that Marquinhos had signed for Cruzeiro following a loan stint at Fluminense.
The 2022 signing has embarked on four loan spells so far since joining the Gunners, but has failed to make a real mark as of yet.
Marquinhos has had a mixed time at Cruzeiro in the Brazilian top-tier, which has spelled some uncertainty regarding his future, as O TEMPO Sports revealed.
The Brazilian outlet explored why manager Leonardo Jardim has left Marquinhos out of recent match squads, now explaining the reasons behind the Arsenal loanee’s ‘disappearance’.
“His disappearance is related to contractual issues between the club and Arsenal,” O TEMPO Sports understands.
The contractual issues relate to the clause that states Cruzeiro are obligated to buy the winger if he is to make 20 appearances in the first half of Brazilian action in 2025.
At present, Marquinhos has 18 appearances for the club, which has prompted Jardim to leave the 22-year-old away from the action, as Cruzeiro are reluctant to sign the Arsenal loanee on a permanent basis.
As a result, it’s understood that Jardim and Cruzeiro’s hierarchy are in contact with Arsenal regarding a possible ‘remodel’ of the forward’s contract, giving Berta another transfer query to tend to.
No way back at Arsenal for Marquinhos
If Marquinhos’ future at Arsenal was already a doubt, it certainly is now, as the Brazilian has failed to win over those at Cruzeiro.
With no disrespect to the club, Cruzeiro finished ninth in the Brazilian top flight last season, which doesn’t give Marquinhos’ chances in the Premier League a lot of faith.
Since signing for his loan club, the 2003-born jewel has scored once in 16 appearances and is clearly yet to convince Jardim.
What’s frustrating for Arsenal is that Mikel Arteta chose to sign Marquinhos over Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, with the levels between the two players quite staggering.
Unfortunately for the Brazilian, his future at Arsenal looks incredibly frail, as do the next steps of his career, with Cruzeiro also undecided on what to do with the wide player.
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