Gabriel Barbosa is latest in long line of Brazilian superstars to lead Inter Milan attack
GABRIEL BARBOSA is set to make his long-awaited debut in European football when Inter Milan host Bologna.
The Nerazzurri beat off competition from a host of top clubs to sign the Brazilian this summer.
Boss Frank de Boer put Gabigol on the bench for the midweek victory over Empoli — and a first start will see him become the latest in a long line a great Brazilian strikers at Inter.
Il Grande Inter of the 1960s, which won back-to-back European Cups were led by a talented Brazilian, while they famously broke the world-record transfer fee to bring in another in 1997.
Here’s a look back at three predecessors.
Jair — 1962-67 and 1968-72
UNFORTUNATE to be competing with Garrincha for the national side, which meant he only earned one cap for Brazil.
Jair scored the only goal of the game as Inter retained the European Cup with victory over Eusebio’s Benfica at the San Siro in 1965.
He had started the win over a Real Madrid team spearheaded by Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas a year earlier.
Jair scored against Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals in the 1963-64 edition.
He won four Serie A titles, two European Cups and two Intercontinental Cups.
He was also a part of Brazil’s 1962 World Cup-winning squad, but didn’t make the team.
Ronaldo — 1997-2002
ARRIVED from Barcelona for a world-record £19.5million fee and arguably displayed the best club form of his career at Inter.
Ronaldo won the Ballon d’Or in his first season and scored in the final as the Nerazzurri won the Uefa Cup with a 3-0 victory over Lazio.
A serious knee injury in 2000 saw him miss the best part of two seasons.
Adriano — 2001-02 and 2004-09
MANY will remember the large-than-life striker towards the end of his career at the San Siro — but he was one hell of a player when he broke onto the scene at Inter.
He smashed home a last-gasp free-kick to win a pre-season friendly against Real Madrid at the age of 19.
Moved to Parma before returning in 2004. He scored 15 times in his first 16 appearances his form dipped in tragic circumstances.
Adriano suffered to recover from the mental anguish of the death of his father and turned to drink.
He was shipped out on loan to Sao Paulo and returned to a new manager in Jose Mourinho.
The Special One gave him one final chance, but couldn’t get the best out of the Brazilian.