Former Gunner opens up about 'inhuman pressure' in Brazil
Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 06.05.23. | 10:59
Willian quickly came back to the Premier League after leaving in 2021
When Willian left Arsenal in 2021, nobody cried. The long-time Chelsea winger came to Emirates already past his prime and for a big wage, and that ‘marriage’ wasn’t suitable for anybody. Fair to the player, he left after only one season, took a huge pay cut and went back to his native Brazil and boyhood club Corinthians. But it turned out that was the even worse choice for him. Unlike leaving Arsenal, where he only stated that he ‘wasn’t happy’, but preferred not to talk about the reasons for this, this time around, he spoke quite openly – enormous pressure.
As one of the biggest football nations in the world, Brazil and its players are always on top, and the pressure in the land of football is enormous. Willan even calls him “inhuman”. After certain results, fans are pressuring players, even threatening them, and that’s something Willan didn’t want to experience.
“It's a complicated subject because when you criticize the player on the ball, you say he didn't do well, that happens. Player is not a machine, he will also have good and bad days. But sometimes the fans don't accept the bad days. What I see in Brazil is sometimes inhuman pressure, which leads to violence at the base, threatens the family, the children... when it comes to that part, for me, it changes. I have to preserve my family, it is my most precious asset” said the ex-Chelsea player to Globo.
The pressure was so big for Willian that he doesn’t want to go back to his homeland ever again (presumable as a player). The Fulham winger intends to play until he is about 40 years old, in England or elsewhere, but not in Brazil.
“I don't want to go back to Brazil, ever again. I had this thought since before Corinthians. I ended up going back to the club where I started because I wanted to and Corinthians too, but I was already thinking about continuing until the end in Europe. And now I intend to close it out here, whether in Europe, the United States or elsewhere. If it can be in England, that would be perfect. I intend to play another four or five years. But we never know because football changes a lot” admitted Willian.
PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 35
Saturday
17.00: (3.05) Wolverhampton (3.30) Aston Villa (2.60)
17.00: (3.30) Bournemouth (3.50) Chelsea (2.35)
17.00: (1.89) Tottenham (3.50) Crystal Palace (4.40)
17.00: (1.21) Man.City (8.00) Leeds (14.0)
19.30: (1.52) Liverpool (4.40) Brentford (6.75)
Sunday
18.30: (2.55) Newcastle (3.50) Arsenal (2.95)
21.00: (3.60) West Ham (3.60) Man.Utd. (2.19)
Monday
17.00: (2.70) Fulham (3.35) Leicester (2.68)
19.30: (1.40) Brighton (5.20) Everton (10.0)
22.00: (2.19) Nott.Forest (3.35) Southampton (3.45)
***odds are subject to change***
