“I came to make history and never let my head drop. Let it be the beginning of a new history.” (Gabriel Barbosa after his first goal for Inter)
How did it come to this so quickly? Gabriel Barbosa, affectionately known as ‘Gabigol’ was classed as the next big thing to come out of Brazil since Neymar. Along with Gabriel Jesus, the Santos forward was being looked at by all of Europe’s elite clubs but it was Inter who eventually got their man. Despite obvious talent, the Brazilian hardly started and was shipped out on loan at the end of the campaign to Benfica. Here he would surely find his form? Yet by early October he had barley featured for the Portuguese team and rumours were rife that he was already ready to leave.
Reports in the Portuguese media claimed that ‘Gabigol’ was astonishingly ready to return to his former club Santos on loan. Benfica would return him to Inter who would, in turn ship him back to Brazil. This, if true, would be a sad and shocking state of affairs due to the Brazilian’s obvious ability, Benfica’s poor start to the season and Inter’s lack of cover for Mauro Icardi.
Brazilian media also claimed that their new great hope was struggling to adapt to life in Portugal, this is somewhat bizarre as whilst Brazilian’s may not always adapt to Liverpool or Donetsk, Portugal is often seen as home from home. Still, everybody is different but the more plausible angle was that the young forward was also caught up in a tussle with his own team mate, Jardel, on the eve of their Champions League tie against Basel. ‘Gabigol’ has made only three appearances for Benfica and has failed to find the net, a trait familiar to fans of the Nerazzurri.
In fairness to Barbosa, he did score once against Bologna whilst in Milan. His 89 minutes over nine games also did show some superb moments of brilliance but this did not justify the 29.5m Euro paid for him in 2016. The strangest thing about the young forward is that it was not only Frank De Boer who did not fancy him or trust him. Stefano Pioli and Stefano Vecchi also had the same feeling about him in a campaign that saw Inter make many changes at the helm. This being followed up in Portugal now begs the question, as to why he is not trusted?
On the pitch he has looked superb in his brief outings. At San Siro the fans believed in him and were sad that he was loaned out. Rumours were rife about his exclusion from the team although Inter (like Benfica) have been professional and closed lip about his absence. Claims he could not adapt to either country, that tactically he needed to grow, poor fitness and the fact that his attitude was extremely poor all circulated but it is conjecture. There has to be some truth in all if not one of these because he has talent and that is evident.
The game against Lazio last season was perhaps one of the moments that really showed glimpses of why so many want to see him be handed more minutes. His performance was a flashback, perhaps to the 1980’s or 1990’s, Rai, Muller, Careca these were the carefree images that nostalgically returned after the young Brazilian got the ball at his feet. He wasn’t scared, he wasn’t overawed, he wanted to juggle the ball, with a Ronaldinho type nonchalance, he is a crowd pleaser.
Perhaps in modern football and especially in Italian football where grids, zones, tactics and academies produce players who are physically superb, well drilled but all too similar, there is no place for ‘Gabigol’. Who wants a man who resembles a street urchin with a football just playing for the love of it? Intelligent, tough and a man who can take someone on. Arguably he may be ill-disciplined, he may not train well but there is no evidence either way.
South American street footballers may have their issues, there is a catalogue of evidence and the time and space allowed in the game means that there are less and less, so shouldn’t football embrace the ones who come through? Perhaps. Only Inter and Benfica know why Barbosa spends so much time off the pitch but the fans are just aching to see him on it. The reasons are a mystery but it is one that needs solving.
