In a recent interview (mentioned by The Daily Mail), Inter Milan centre-forward Gabriel Barbosa, who is currently playing on loan at Flamengo, has revealed his admiration for the Premier League and his desire to join his international teammate Roberto Firmino at Liverpool. The Brazilian striker said, ‘Firmino is great, I really admire him. He’s been successful for many years in Europe.
‘He is a powerful forward and he has been great for Brazil. He is an inspiration that I look up to.
‘It would be a pleasure to play with him. Maybe we could team up for Brazil in the future and Liverpool is a team that everyone wants to play for.’
Barbosa’s Brilliant Loan Spell In Brazil
The Daily Mail has also claimed that Barbosa’s loan move could be made permanent if Inter receive an offer in the region of £20m. The 23-year-old has enjoyed a fantastic spell at Flamengo after helping them win the Copa Libertadores final against River Plate last month. He scored two late goals in that game which ensured his side’s place in the FIFA Club World Cup at Qatar.
Barbosa has scored 34 goals and grabbed 11 assists in 40 matches for Flamengo this term across all competitions. However, it is also worth noting that he has previously struggled to prove his worth for his parent club at the San Siro. The Brazilian frontman only managed to net one goal in ten appearances for the Serie A giants which is why Antonio Conte could be willing to let him leave this winter.
What Does The South American Sensation Offer On The Pitch?
The five-time Brazil international is deceptively quick and can make some penetrative runs with the ball in the opposition half. He has also transformed himself into a consistent goal-getter during this calendar year. Barbosa is also not shy of creating chances for others around him and possesses the vision to play a killer pass in the final third.
Should The Reds Make A Move For Barbosa?
Liverpool can benefit from acquiring a new forward who can come in and push Divock Origi and Roberto Firmino for a starting berth in Jurgen Klopp’s first-team. Rhian Brewster will likely leave the club on loan in January so that he can gain more first-team experience. Thus, Barbosa could fill the void left by the young Englishman by helping the Reds compete across all fronts next year.
Klopp should consider making a move for the Brazilian marksman this winter as he will be an excellent value-for-money squad option at Anfield.
