It is being reported that Brazilian striker Gabriel Barbosa turned down a move to West Ham in January, and a lot of the Hammers’ fanbase have reacted to the news on Twitter.
The player’s agent was speaking to the media, via Sport Witness, when he said: “West Ham were sure they were going to buy because the proposal was very interesting. [It was] bigger for Gabriel [than Flamengo’s offer]. For Inter it was also bigger. He didn’t think about it. He preferred to go to Flamengo.”
It was probably hard for the club to take that the forward preferred to play in the Brazilian league than go to the Irons. He has a good record in his home nation, where he has featured 172 times, scoring 80 goals and contributing with 25 assists for both Flamengo and his former club Santos, via Transfermarkt,
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However, the 23 year-old has previously failed in Europe. He moved to Serie A giants Inter back in 2016, but only made 10 appearances for the Nerazzurri, scoring one goal. They subsequently loaned him out to Benfica, where he was only picked five times, scoring once.
Judging by that record, perhaps West Ham have dodged a bullet and should instead look for players who can adapt well to a more physical league. Here is what some Hammers fans had to say following the admission from Barbosa’s agent:
Brazilian forward Gabriel Barbosa turned down a move to West Ham in January, his agent has revealed. pic.twitter.com/LxW9wP1aRP
— West Ham News (@WHUFC_News) May 6, 2020
Hmm good goal to game ratio according to Wikipedia. I wonder if they offered him a smaller contract then he wanted since West Ham are the champions of undercutting potential players
— Eric (@E_Freeds) May 6, 2020
It is a good time to invest, flamengo cannot keep it. They cannot pay the costs of having a champion American campus.
Better know as “Gabigol”— 🍺cervecero hammer⚒ (@mauricio_ok24) May 6, 2020
Of course he did.
— 父 Dylan 父 (@Dylbec) May 6, 2020
Don’t blame him.
— An Idiot Up North (@MattyH14) May 6, 2020
Who?
— Dave Franklin (@david_franklin8) May 6, 2020
Bowen>Barbosa
— Jack Grogan-Fenn (@JackGroganFenn) May 6, 2020
West Ham, are you glad or sorry that Barbosa didn’t join the Hammers in January? Comment below with your views!
