Gabigol 'would like Inter return', but...

By Football Italia staff

Gabriel Barbosa has confirmed that he would like to return to Inter in January, but the Nerazzurri may sell the forward back to Santos.

Gabigol is currently on loan at Flamengo, rediscovering the form that earned him a €29.5m transfer to Inter in 2016 with 16 goals in just 22 appearances.

“I had some chances in Europe, but I didn’t get many,” the 22-year-old told Tuttosport.

“However, I have no regrets or grudges. After winning the Rio Olympics, I thought about leaving because I had received some very important offers.

“I accepted Inter’s for the kindness that the club showed my family and I, just like the Nerazzurri fans who came to greet me and celebrated my arrival at the airport.

“I arrived in Milan with great motivation because I liked the club’s project and I was happy to start an experience in Europe, but things did not go as I imagined.

“I’m a hard worker. I had continuity in Brazil and always did well. I hope it can happen at a European club too. I’m still an Inter player, we’ll see if it happens with them.

“I’ve matured both as a person and as a player. At Inter I learned to play differently, I learned a different language and lived with players from other countries.

“For now, I want to continue to train hard, play games, score goal and possibly win something with Flamengo, at least until the end of the year. After that, I’ll see what’s best with my family, agents and of course Inter.

“It’s hard to say what went wrong at Inter. I really like the fans and my teammates have always been nice to me.

“I’d walk through the streets and everyone wanted to talk to me. Perhaps, at the time, the team needed something different to what I could give.

“Inter had strikers who were already playing together and had different characteristics to mine.

“Even today on social media, there are many Nerazzurri fans who have asked me to come back.

“I played very little, but I also managed to score. There was so much expectation on my shoulders, but it wasn’t enough.

“Having said that, I’m not giving up an inch and I’m thinking about the present and the future.

“If I went back, I’d still say ‘yes’ to Inter. They’re a top club, they’ve won everything in the past and many Brazilians have made history with the Nerazzurri.

“I’m also an Inter fan and I always watch ‘my’ team’s matches on TV.”

However, Fox Sports is reporting Santos have approached the Nerazzurri with a view to bringing back the Brazilian.

For that to happen, the Beneamata would want €5m plus defender and former Torino target Lucas Verissimo in exchange.

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