Francis Cagigao was key to Arsenal clinching the signature of former Ituano starlet Gabriel Martinelli last summer.

Mundo Deportivo reports Cagigao first saw the youngster as a 15 year-old playing in the Copa Sao Paulo de Futebol Junior tournament.

He travelled to watch him in action and knew he was dealing with a real prospect.

It was only news of Arsenal's interest in the player that alerted Barcelona, who invited him to the Catalan side for a ten-day trial.

But they dismissed Martinelli as "ordinary" and decided not to pursue a transfer any further. Manchester United then had him for two trials but also decided that he wouldn't have future at Old Trafford.

That paved Arsenal's way to make their move and after watching him in a league game at the beginning of 2019, Cagigao was convinced the club had to make their move.

And a face-to-face meeting towards the end of last season was enough for Cagigao to recommend Martinelli's signing to new Gunners football chief Edu.