Inter striker Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa is set to stay in Brazil throughout 2019 after joining Flamengo on loan for the entirety of the upcoming domestic season.
The 22-year-old arrived at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in a highly publicised €29.5 million deal from Santos in the summer of 2017 but failed to establish himself at the club, with just a single goal in his maiden campaign.
Although Premier League club West Ham United had been keen to bring Gabigol in, doubts surrounding his eligibility for a work permit in the UK allowed Flamengo to seal a loan deal.
Globo Esporte confirmed that the forward had arrived in Rio de Janeiro for a medical on Wednesday, whilst the player himself took to social media to announce his impending switch.
Meanwhile, Flamengo are set to contribute around €30,000 per month towards the 2016 Olympic gold medallist’s wages at Inter, but will not pay the Nerazzurri a fee for the loan.
After an underwhelming half-season at Benfica in the first half of the 2017/18 season, Gabigol was loaned back to Santos last January and swiftly rediscovered his form to end the season as the Brasileirao top goalscorer.