Just six months after Gabriel Barbosa made a €28 million move from Santos to Inter Milan, the Brazilian striker may be on his way out of the San Siro. The player's agent, Wagner Ribeiro, has spoken out about his client's unhappiness in Italy and suggested that the striker might be looking to make a swift January exit from the club.
16 minutes
Despite his big money move, Gabriel has only registered 16 minutes of Football in Serie A this season and has been frozen out of the side.
Speaking to Football Italia, Ribeiro has sparked rumours of a potential exit for his client.
"Why isn't he playing? Not even Inter can answer that, when he came from Brazil they said he wasn't ready physically, but now he's in great shape. The truth is that they haven't even given him a chance. Gabriel was a starter at Santos, called-up by Brazil and has been an Olympic champion. Then he was sold for an amazing figure. We'll resolve this situation in January, he has a five-year contract but that doesn't mean anything if he isn't playing. He's unhappy right now."
It is unusual for a club to fork out such a substantial figure on a player to only reduce him to 16 minutes of football.
Ribeiro admitted that the initial problem was due to the player's fitness but now he is match fit, it is hard to see why Gabriel hasn't been given a chance in the side with Inter currently sitting 9th in Serie A.
Coutinho Repeat?
It hasn't been easy for Gabriel at Inter Milan, with the man who signed him Frank De Boer sacked after just 85 days in charge. With Stefano Pioli clearly not rating the Brazilian, keeping the striker out of his first team plans. The Italian did go on record to say that Gabriel would be given game time during his reign.
"Gabriel Barbosa? Every player who can help us win will be given an opportunity, Gabriel is training well, then it's up to me to figure out who will be reliable and who I can play every Sunday."
Obviously, as it stands Gabriel's situation at the club remains unchanged and mirror's Coutinho's similar situation at Inter before making an £8 million move to Liverpool in 2013.
Gabriel certainly fits the criteria of a Jurgen Klopp player, a young versatile attacker whose current situation will lower his transfer value, making the chances of an affordable deal greater. The move has the potential to produce similar results with Coutinho's progress at Anfield has developed him into one of the best midfielders in football, with Gabriel's form at Santos an insight into the player's ability. As it stands, Liverpool are just one of many clubs interested in the out of favour striker, and he may yet find his way into the starting XI at Inter. But given the previous history between Liverpool and Inter Milan, a move to the Premier League could become a real possibility for Gabriel.