“Everyone Wants to Play for Liverpool” Says Gabigol

Flamengo striker Gabriel Barbosa says he’s a huge admirer of Roberto Firmino and doesn’t rule out linking up with him at club level one day. Gabigol shot Flamengo to the Brasileirão title and scored twice in the Rio club’s Copa Libertadores final victory over River Plate. The Brazilian club are likely to meet Liverpool at […]
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sambafoot_admin
2019-12-07 17:39:00

Flamengo striker Gabriel Barbosa says he’s a huge admirer of Roberto Firmino and doesn’t rule out linking up with him at club level one day.

Gabigol shot Flamengo to the Brasileirão title and scored twice in the Rio club’s Copa Libertadores final victory over River Plate.

The Brazilian club are likely to meet Liverpool at the Club World Cup in Doha later this month and Gabigol is looking forward to potentially facing his compatriot Roberto Firmino.

“Firmino is great, I really admire him,” he told the Sun. “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 admits that coming to the Premier League is something that interests him in the future. His contract is still owned by Inter Milan.

“It’s hard to talk about this at the moment,” Barbosa added. “My focus is totally on the Club World Cup.

“I like the Premier League very much. It combines technique, strength and speed. I always follow the games from Brazil.

“It really is a place I would like to play. It’s one of the best leagues in the world. Every player dreams of being a champion and winning the Premier League must be indescribable.

“But I still have a contract with Inter and Flamengo until the end of 2019.” Gabigol appeared to bid farewell to Flamengo fans during Thursday’s 6-1 win over Avaí.

His move to Inter in 2016 was ill-fated and he has spent loan spells at Benfica, Santos and now Flamengo since the transfer.

“These are different times,” he said. “When I went to Europe I was young and had many things to learn.

“Now I find myself much more experienced and mature, living the best phase of my life – 2019 has been a magical year. I feel like a new player.

“Europe is a natural place for all players who stand out in Brazil but things didn’t go the way I imagined on my first trip.

“Adaptation is never easy, despite being with my family there. It’s a new culture, a new country, a new way of playing. All this, whether you like it or not, ends up messing with you.

“But I do not regret going. I never bowed my head in the face of difficulties and always tried to work the best way possible because I trust my potential and know how much I can learn and improve.”