Fabrizio Romano gave the ¡Here we go! of Luiz Henrique’s departure from Betis to Botafogo until the end of the season, with the intention of joining Olympique Lyonnais‘ roster the upcoming season.
The news have caused a bittersweet reaction in Spanish football. A player that looked like one of the main upcoming promises in our league will return to Brazil through the back door.
The Brazilian winger arrived at Heliópolis from Fluminense during the summer of 2022 in exchange for eight million euros. He was then regarded as a player with great conditions.
At the time of his arrival, the Brazilian began winning over the ‘verdiblanco’ fanbase with his impressive physical power and wingspan as well as his superb dribbling and striking abilities. However, there were always doubts surrounding the performance of the player. It turned out to be his decision making, especially in the last third of the pitch.
In the beginning, it was a comprehensible flaw as a result of his inexperience and him going through an adaptation period. But the truth is that it seems like Luiz Henrique has not managed to adapt to the roster of Manuel Pellegrini in this year and a half. He has not made any progress, in fact quite the contrary, as his performance has stagnated or even plummeted.
It is the case of a player that starred many rumors that linked him to big offers coming from the Premier League after standing out while playing for Betis in the latest Supercopa de España that was celebrated in Saudi Arabia. Even FC Barcelona showed interest in him. Those offers proved his tremendous upside, but said potential has not manifested throughout his stint at Villamarín.
Luiz Henrique will leave betis in exchange for 20 million euros, a good sum of money. However, the sensations surrounding the transfer are contradicting. His departure causes a general feeling of impotence and waste of the talent of a player that most likely could have brought much joy to the ‘verdiblanco’ fans. It is the feeling provoked by the departure of a player that shut down out of nowhere. Luiz Henrique will leave without pain or glory.
He is 23 years old and could still bring out all of his potential. However, Luiz Henrique will be remembered in LaLiga as what could have been but was not.
Translated by Nuño Alonso.
Main image: @RealBetis.
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