Arsenal signed Gabriel Martinelli in the summer of 2019 for just £6m and it appears the Gunners were able to negotiate with an “exclusive clause” before completing the deal.
Martinelli has proved to be one of the bargains of the season for Arsenal, with the 18-year-old scoring 10 goals in all competitions in his debut campaign in England.
He became the first teenager since the 1998/99 season to score 10 or more goals in a single season for the Gunners, with Nicholas Anelka holding the previous record.
The north London side were not the only club interested in the youngster and had to fight for his signature.
And The Athletic report that Gunners were able to have a four-week window once Martinelli turned 18 on June 18 last summer.
Less than two weeks later, the club announced that they had signed Martinelli from Ituano, with other clubs not being allowed to negotiate with the teenager at that time.
Arsenal were urged to sign Martinelli by chief scout Francis Cagigao, who had previously scouted top talents including Cesc Fabregas, Hector Bellerin, Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez.
Martinelli scored on just his second appearance for the Gunners this season, a brace in a Carabao Cup win over Nottingham Forest.
Before the 18-year-old followed that up with a brace in a Europa League victory over Standard Liege just a week after.
