Gabriel Barbosa turned down the chance to move to West Ham United in January with the Inter Milan flop preferring to stay at Flamengo instead, agent Junior Pedroso has told Jorge Nicola on YouTube.
A man more commonly known as ‘Gabigol’ reclaimed that rather ambitious moniker in style during a stunning season back home in Brazil.
The 23-year-old’s once-glittering reputation had taken a beating in Europe after disastrous spells at Inter Milan and Benfica but to say he was a man reborn at Flamengo would be an understatement.
With 43 goals in all competitions, including two in the Copa Libertadores final, Gabriel fired Jorge Jesus’s side to an unprecedented domestic double. If it wasn’t for a late Roberto Firmino strike, Flamengo would have added the Club World Cup to their Serie A and Libertadores triumphs.
West Ham are long-time admirers of a man who won Olympic Gold alongside Neymar and Gabirel Jesus in Rio. But it seems that, after getting his career back on track, Gabigol was not exactly keen on the idea of leaving the safe haven of South America again.
The phrase ‘once bitten, twice shy’ comes to mind.
“An official proposal came from West Ham. West Ham were sure they would buy Gabigol because the offer was very interesting,” Pedroso says, in quotes translated by Gavea News.
“The offer was bigger than Flamengo’s. (But) he preferred Flamengo. The problem was not money – it was thinking about the next step of his career. What was the best opportunity for his growth?”
Pedroso adds that Gabriel now has a £50 million release clause in his contract at Flamengo. Therefore, if he enjoys another exceptional run of form when football can be resumed, clubs in Europe will be able to sign him for a fixed sum.
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