The life of a professional footballer can take many turns. It’s like a roller coaster. From being at the top to falling into oblivion in a matter of years. We have seen cases like that in spades, but there are some that are especially remembered by the public. On Wednesday, at 9:00 p.m., Spanish fans will see an old acquaintance of our football at Lille.
Andre Gomes It was one of the greatest promises in the world. The Portuguese left Benfica heading to Valenciawhere he became one of the best midfielders in the First Division. His great size, together with exceptional talent, made him object of desire of some of the biggest clubs in Europe. Among them, Real Madrid and Barcelona. The whites seemed to have it sealed, but it was finally the Catalans who took over his services for a figure close to the 40 million euros.
However, He never lived up to expectations and failed in Barcelona. The media and the fans were filled with the Portuguese’s performance, unable to find his place in the Catalan midfield. André Gomes admitted to having a very bad time in Barcelona, even having “fear of going out out of shame.”
André was never guilty of expectations that were generated around him, but he was a victim of the consequences of not performing at the expected level. The Camp Nou whistled at him and his confidence collapsed. “Thinking too much hurts me, because I think about bad things. Although my colleagues support me a lot, things don’t go the way they want them to go“, he declared in an interview with Panenka in 2018.
Shining again in France… after a serious injury
André Gomes had to leave Barcelona to regain his best football. His new club was Everton, in the Premier League, where he spent four seasons. Without becoming the star I was aiming for, Yes it was very useful for the English.
His career took a major setback again on November 3, 2019. In an action with Heung-Min Son, the soccer player’s leg was completely destroyed. A chilling injury from which he was able to successfully recover in less time than expected, although he almost did not play a leading role again at Everton. The midfielder decided to leave for Lille on loan for one season and after ending his contract with the ‘Toffees’, he has returned to France to squeeze the last drops out of his game.
At 31 years old, will face Real Madrid on the second day of the league phase of the Champions League. Although he did not play against Sporting CP in his team’s defeat, he did He is expected to be part of Bruno Génésio’s eleven against the meringues.
An example of the twists and turns that football takeswith a player who, having had very high expectations, with a dark time in the big club and a serious injury, He has been able to overcome this to remain in the elite of European football.
