The rumours had been swirling and the intrigue in East London had been growing, but after almost three months of speculation, it has been confirmed that skilful Brazilian striker Gabriel Barbosa will not be joining West Ham, or indeed any of his other Premier League suitors. Instead, the man who topped the scoring charts in Brazil in 2018 whilst on loan at his boyhood club Santos from Inter Milan will be moving back to his homeland once more – this time to pull on the red and black shirt of Rio de Janeiro super-club Flamengo. News of the one-year loan deal came as a considerable surprise to observers in Brazil. After his successful season with Santos, during which he managed 27 goals in all competitions, handing him the golden boot awards in both the Brazilian league and cup, it was widely expected that he would return for a second shot at success in a top European league. A comeback at Inter Milan, where he failed to break into the team after his €30 million move in 2016, was not an option. “For the next six months we will have no space for him”, said the club’s sporting director Piero Ausilio, “We are happy with what he has done and we will find the best solution with him.” But few would have guessed that that solution lay back in Brazil. Clubs in South America generally do not have the sort of cash required to pay for a player who Inter wanted upwards of €20 million for and who reportedly earns €50,000 a week. The Premier League, where money is an inconsequential hurdle to most negotiations, seemed a far more likely destination. West Ham, as well as Fulham and Everton, were known to be seriously interested. According to reports, the move faltered upon West Ham’s application for a work permit. But it is not entirely clear why the permit was denied. Barbosa, known as Gabigol in Brazil, did not meet the international cap requirements imposed by the FA. But then neither did Felipe Anderson, who West Ham brought in in the summer, nor did Richarlison, who moved from Fluminense to Watford in 2017. Whatever the reason for the negative response, it is a shame that we will not be seeing Gabriel test his mettle in the English top flight this season. In today’s market, it is rare that we see a genuinely intriguing transfer. We are able to watch football matches from all over the world with ease and can see lengthy YouTube videos of individual highlights any time we please, spoiling the sort of (good and bad) surprises international arrivals used to supply.