Premier League giants Chelsea and Arsenal have been alerted by Inter Milan’s reported willingness to listen to offers for their £26 million summer signing.
20-year-old Gabriel Barbosa arrived in Italy to much fanfare given he was labelled the ‘next Neymar’ by the media, with the club said to have beaten the likes of Juventus and Barcelona to acquire the services of the player.
However, soon after the season started, reports began circulating that Gabriel Barbosa’s signing was not approved by former Inter boss Frank de Boer and the club had vetoed the Dutchman. The forward didn’t start a single game under the former Ajax manager’s short reign at the club, playing only 16 mins in total.
De Boer was sacked on the back of disastrous team results, and Stefano Pioli was appointed as the new manager. However, the situation for ‘Gabigol’ seems unlikely to change, with Calcionews24 claiming Inter are willing to consider offers for the Brazilian outcast, either on loan or on a permanent basis.
The 20-year-old forward has plenty of admirers in England, with Chelsea and Arsenal said to be the front runners for his signature, according to the Italian outlet. Meanwhile, The Sun add that the two Premier League clubs will face competition from Barcelona for Gabriel Barbosa, with the Catalan giants said to have had a first-option on the player, obtained in the process of signing Neymar from Santos.
Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United may also enter the fray, having held talks with ‘Gabigol’ in the summer and coming very close to bringing the Brazilian to Old Trafford.
The forward made his debut for the Brazil national team back in May at the age 19, and has already scored twice in four appearances for his country. Gabriel Barbosa’s talent and potential remain unquestionable, validated by the fact that so many of elite European’s clubs are waiting to pounce if he leaves Inter Milan.
At 20, he can take this set-back in his stride and continue his progress as a player. It remains to be seen whether the new manager Stefano Pioli recognises his abilities eventually or whether ‘Gabigol’ moves on by the end of January 2017.
