There’s quite as exciting in football than a young Brazilian coming through and being dubbed the next big thing, and for Gabriel Barbosa, the striker has managed to do that twice.
Barbosa, or ‘Gabigol’ as he is effectively known as, burst onto the scene in 2015 with Santos after scoring eight goals in the Brazilian Serie A division, with Football Whispers dubbing the then-teenager as the next wonderkid to come out of the South American nation, yet following a move to Inter Milan in 2016, it all came crumbling down.
One goal for the Serie A side, as well as a disastrous loan spell at Benfica as stats from Transfermarkt show, saw Barbosa effetely written off in Europe, yet two fantastic loan spells back in Brazil, including this season that has seen the attacker score 19 goals in 19 games as stats from WhoScored show, has seen the 23-year-old striker thrown into the spotlight again and back on for a move in Europe, and West Ham are reportedly interested.
According to Passione Inter, the Irons, as well as Crystal Palace, are interested in Barbosa following his incredible season with Flamengo with the report claiming that his parent club Inter will be willing to sell the Brazilian centre-forward if an offer of €30m (£25.93m) is put forward to the Milan-based club.
Although Barbosa has been on an astonishing run of form this season, a return to Europe might be too soon for the attacker, and especially a transfer to the Premier League.
After all, the Brazilian is a player that has already tried his hand in two of Europe’s biggest divisions to disappointing results, and although Barbosa’s game has improved since these spells, the leap from Brazil to England could be one that the attacker, again, finds too difficult to handle.
Barbosa might have been a wonderkid a few years ago and is starting to find his true place in the game now, but a move to West Ham could yet again backfire massively for both club and player.
