West Ham look set to miss out on the signing of Inter Milan’s Brazil international Gabriel Barbosa – known fondly as Gabigol – to Flamengo with his work permit a stumbling block for the Irons, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.
The Italian reporter, who has worked for the likes of Sky Sports and the Guardian, claims on his personal Twitter account that the 22-year-old is set to leave the Serie A giants and head to his homeland with Flamengo, having already spent time on loan at old club Santos.
Gabigol saluta l’Inter e va in prestito secco al Flamengo: niente work permit per il West Ham, torna subito in Brasile ?? #calciomercato
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 8, 2019
The four cap Brazil star has struggled in Europe with just 10 league appearances in Italy and Portugal combined, but has 42 goals in 118 appearances in Brazil’s top flight.
Opinion
Considering how he has found the likes of Italian football difficult to get to grasps with, perhaps it is best that the Hammers appear to have missed out on his signing. They are not exactly in desperate need of a goalscorer but if Manuel Pellegrini does want someone to bang in the goals alongside Marko Arnautovic he might want to look for someone with a better record that Gabigol. It is a shame for the Hammers faithful that they will not get to see another South American dazzle them with their skills, having taken Felipe Anderson in to east London as one of their own. It is one of those things that happens in British football, and there is the potential that more and more foreign talent will miss out on the opportunity to come to England. Still, it seems as thought the Irons are on the hunt for a new striker and as such Lucas Perez, Andy Carroll and Javier Hernandez better watch out for the competition coming their way.