Wagner Ribeiro: “Gabigol is unhappy, as every player would be who does not play”

Interviewed in length by FOX Sports, the agent of Gabigol, Wagner Ribeiro, spoke on the past four months since his clients arrival in Italy and what the future holds:

“Gabriel left Brazil on a high. He was Olympic champion with the Selecao and had been called by national team coach Tite when he was still in Brazil. He arrived in Italy and was welcomed by more than a thousand people at the airport, Inter and Pirelli make the presentation in an auditorium as they did with Ronaldo, he is fighting fit and ready to play: Frank De Boer let him play just 16 minutes and even with the new coach, he was given three minutes in the last game. Now he is unhappy, as every player would be who does not play. He offered to return to Brazil and there are also offers from European clubs.

“I was at San Siro for the Inter-Fiorentina, with president Erick Thohir and I asked him why Gabigol did not play in the second half when Inter were 3-0 up. Gabriel has a great relationship with everyone in the dressing room, with Brazilians, Argentines, Italians and players from the other countries. I understand that he is young, and is in a learning phase and that he has a lot to learn, but I wonder what he lacks to play. At least give him a chance to play, at least once, to show that he’s worth 30 million!

Candreva who is part of the Italian national team, there is Icardi who is a centre forward and score goals. If Inter were leading the Serie A I’d say they’re waiting for him to play. But Inter are in mid-table and he has no chance. Fans call for his introduction but he does not get on the field. Therefore it is very sad, and for me Gabriel is like a son. Economically it was a great choice to go to Inter, but talking about football… . In January, when I’m in Italy, I will ask what is the sporting director Piero Ausilio and Pioli’s project for him: Will they give him a chance or will they send him away on loan?

“First he has to clarify his position at Inter. He would have to have another adaption phase if he went to Las Palmas. Look at Adriano who went to Parma and returned as the Emperor. I remember when Kaka arrived at Milan and Rui Costa was ahead of him. Ancelotti was coach, and ordered Kaka to play the second half: Kaka was the best on the field. Robinho emerged at Real Madrid. Neymar we all know. Gabriel is young but has no opportunities, even when Inter won 3-1 . They spent 30 million euro, a fortune. When I spoke with Piero Ausilio I asked him if the coach knew where and how to play Gabriel, or if he had in mind not to play him because they thought he wasn’t ready. He responded that he would play: it is already past mid-season and he still hasn’t played.

I do not want to name names, but four big Brazilian clubs have inquired about Gabigol. Everyone knows him, he has enormous potential. He was not in the Olympic team or scoring at Santos by chance. Santos received 30 million and there is European interest, making it difficult for a Brazilian club who can afford that much. We’ll see in January. If he comes back to Brazil would you say that he has failed? But I wonder how can you have failed if you did not have the chance to play. He wouldn’t be returning as he was a failure, instead he would return because he was not given a chance. But there are also opportunities in big European clubs. He’s played 18 minutes in two games. I do not want to force the coach, but if he does not play for Inter, there are opportunities in another team. There is no club higher than Inter.

Juventus, Atletico Madrid and Leicester were all interested in the summer. The economic aspect is what led to his transfer to Inter, because Juve are at the same level as Inter. We chose Inter because the project they had for him was very good and it also related to marketing. At the Olympics I met President Thohir and he told me that Inter would make Gabriel the best player in the world.”

Source: FOX Sports