2 goals in 2 games: Arsenal loanee ‘living a magical moment’ as coach hails his ‘great potential’
The talented youngster had a couple of good reasons for leaving Premier League challengers Arsenal at the start of 2024.
Firstly, he wanted to play regular football again. Despite a bright start to life in England, and a goal on his Arsenal debut two years ago, he had fallen down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta, farmed out on a couple of loan spells with differing degrees of success.
Marquinhos, speaking to Paramount Plus, admits that he also wanted to add a more versatile streak to his game. As a left-footed right-winger, he was always going to find life tough behind Bukayo Saka at Arsenal. Would more first-team chances have come his way, however, if Marquinhos had possessed the ability – at the time – to play in a number of different positions, a la Reiss Nelson for instance?
“(I am) very happy. When I came to Fluminese, I wanted to be happy again, to play football again. It was the biggest reason for coming here,” explains Marquinhos, who joined Arsenal from Sao Paulo for around £3 million back in 2022.
“With my teammates and (La Flu coach Fernando) Diniz, I’m able to play my football. I’m increasingly happy and adapted with this shirt.
“From the first contacts I had with Professor Diniz, he made it very clear that I was going to come here to play not only in my position, but also to learn how to play in other positions on the field,” adds Marquinhos, who has been considered for a new-look full-back role of late.
“I’m here to learn from him and the whole group.”
Arsenal loanee Marquinhos shining at Fluminense
A couple of big goals have certainly improved Marquinhos’ mood. He scored a late equaliser against Alianza Lima last week – his first for Fluminense – and then followed that up with an early opener in Wednesday’s 2-1 Copa Libertadores group-stage victory over Chilean outfit Colo Colo.
The 21-year-old had only ever scored six senior goals until last week. Then, he netted twice in the space of a few days.
“I’m living a magical moment. A very special week,” Marquinhos beams. “It was also my birthday week. I fulfilled my dream of scoring a goal at Maracana alongside the Tricolor fans. It was wonderful.”
The one-time Wolves and Atletico Madrid target is now honing his considerable potential under perhaps the greatest tactician outside of European football. Marquinhos will always be thankful for the role Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta played in his development. But it’s under Fernando Diniz at Fluminense where he could take his game to an all-new level.
HITC reported back in February that Arsenal, obviously still believing in Marquinhos’ talent, had reservations about including an option-to-buy clause in his Fluminense contract. That they eventually agreed on the opposite, however, has much to do with the Brazil Under 23 international’s desire for a clean break and a fresh start.
Brazilian is showing his ‘great potential again’
“Professor Fernando is very different (from Arteta),” Marquinhos says of the man who guided Fluminense to Copa Libertadores glory last season. “It’s even difficult to say. (His style) is very different. I don’t think anyone in the world does (what we does).
“Wanting to propose the game, to be offensive, has a (in common) bit with Arteta. But the way we play, everything we do here is unique to him. I don’t think anyone in the world does it.”
The admiration between player and coach, meanwhile, is very much a two-way street.
“In Europe, he was unable to have a run of games,” Diniz saysa of the Arsenal loanee. “But he always had great potential. What he’s doing doesn’t surprise me. For me, Fluminense is the right place for him.
“He played very well in these two games.”
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