Gabriel Barbosa is determined to be a success at Inter Milan and insisted he has unfinished business in Serie A as he continues to focus on getting back to his best in Brazil.
The 22-year-old, nicknamed 'Gabigol', moved to Inter in a £26million deal back in 2016 and came with a burgeoning reputation, having scored 56 goals in 153 games for Santos and been a part of Brazil's gold medal team at the Rio Olympics.
But Barbosa failed to live up to expectations in the Italian capital, scoring just once in nine league appearances and was shipped out on loan.
A poor spell at Benfica - which returned just one goal - followed, but Barbosa is now back in his homeland on loan at Santos and has rediscovered his goalscoring form.
'I'm young and still have lots of objectives and one of these is to win with Inter Milan,' Barbosa told Gazzetta dello Sport.
'After the Olympics, there was a lot of pressure on me with fans and media expecting a lot.
'I did the best I could to adapt to Italy, but things didn't go well. Having said this, I'm not going to give up a centimetre and I'm thinking of the future.
'My disappointing year in Milan will help me grow. [Inter] are a top club, they have won a lot internationally and many Brazilians have made a name for themselves at Inter.
'I never had any doubts about accepting their offer, despite having some other, equally big ones. I've got a contract to 2021 and I'm relaxed now. I'm just thinking of giving my best for Santos.'
Barbosa has scored 12 goals in 23 Brazilian league games for boyhood club Santos this year and is due to return to Italy in January at the end of his loan period.
Despite his wishes to return to Inter and prove his doubters wrong, Santos have expressed a desire to extend his stay and have opened up negotiations.
Santos boss Cuca told Globo Esporte: 'We know his stay here is linked to the loan that will expire at the end of the year.
'But we'd like to keep him for longer so we will do everything to renew his loan. We are however well aware of the difficulties as he's owned by Inter.'
likadipsuz
0
Remain at Santos.
Baninjo
0
Isn't Gabriel Batistuta the real Gabigol?
Batistuta is "batigol"
Baninjo
4
He never get a chance to show what he can do, he get only last few minutes on some matches and its impossible to see his quality
CP3
0
A little inconsistent in the last games with some good plays.
Jabonero
0
Genius of the ball
surrounded
0
That's the best deal for him
Halifax
0
Tony Soprano's favorite player
pluslove
1
Back home, back doing what he does best.
boostero
0
Could he become decent for inter?
dandelion
0
He's the top scorer of Brasileirão right now with 12 goals. For the season, 21 goals in 40 games.
poser
0
It would be a shame to see him go.
myhome12
0
Dude is so overrated and acts like he’s Neymar on social media. Literally trash
Treykiss
1
Isn't Gabriel Batistuta the real Gabigol?
dusky
0
Useless because icardi is not replacement😂😂😂
Robinhan
0
Start searching for new club from now we don't need you
Gerrezim
0
Oke extend his loan at Brazil and comeback stronger next summer. Let's see what you got 👏