Gabigol: ‘I learned so much’

Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa insists he has “matured and learned a great deal” with Inter and Benfica after completing his return to Santos.

The striker, still only 21 years old, failed to get a single Serie A start after his €29.5m move to San Siro in the summer of 2016.

He was loaned out to Benfica with option to buy, but struggled there too, until today returning to Santos on loan to December 2018.

“It’s all very different now,” Gabigol said on Santos TV.

Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa insists he has “matured and learned a great deal” with Inter and Benfica after completing his return to Santos.

The striker, still only 21 years old, failed to get a single Serie A start after his €29.5m move to San Siro in the summer of 2016.

He was loaned out to Benfica with option to buy, but struggled there too, until today returning to Santos on loan to December 2018.

“It’s all very different now,” Gabigol said on Santos TV.

“I have matured and learned a great deal with so much experience. I return very different as a person too. I am more of a man now, more mature, but with the same ambition as always.

“I want to score goals and give my best to help the team. My love for this club will be eternal. My family knew my desire to come back, also so that I could be closer to them.

“I will never disguise that Santos is the club I support. I think 2018 is going to be a special year.

“I learned so much in Europe. There were good experiences and bad ones, but I hope to use everything I’ve learned to find my space here. My objective is also to get back into the Brazil squad, but first I am focused on Santos.”