Gabigol beats Thomas Vermaelen to win ‘Bidone d’Or’ award as worst Serie A player of 2017
Inter Milan beat off elite competition to sign Brazilian, but he flopped as was loaned out to Benfica during summer
GABIGOL has beaten off competition from two former Premier League players to win the "award" of Serie A's worst player in 2017.
The Brazilian — real name Gabriel Barbosa — joined Inter Milan in the summer of 2016, despite interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs.
But had made just nine Serie A appearances and was loaned out to Benfica at the end of last season.
However, Gabigol has struggled in Portugal, playing just one league match this campaign and received the "Bidone d'Oro" — Golden Bin.
It wasn't easy, though, as the Brazilian had produce a really terrible performance to come out ahead of Juan Iturbe and Thomas Vermaelan.
Iturbe, who spent part of the 2015-16 season on loan at Bournemouth, had joined Roma in 2014 with a big reputation.
But he failed to show anything resembling a top level footballer and has since been loaned out a further two times.
Vermaelen was also a Roma player for part of 2017, having joined from Barcelona on loan.
ADRI AH NO! The rise and fall of Adriano
However, he spent the majority of the season injured — after being sent off in a Champions League qualifying clash with Porto on his debut.
Gabigol joins the likes of Rivaldo, Christian Vieri, Adriano, Ricardo Quaresma and Alexandre Pato in winning the dubious award.
Past Bidone d'Oro winners
2003 — Rivaldo, AC Milan
2004 — Nicola Legrottaglie, Juventus
2005 — Christian Vieri, Inter Milan/AC Milan
2006 — Adriano, Inter Milan
2007 — Adriano, Inter Milan
2008 — Ricardo Quaresma, Inter Milan
2009 — Felipe Melo, Fiorentina/Juventus
2010 — Adriano, Roma
2011 — Diego Milito, Inter Milan
2012 — Alexandre Pato, AC Milan
2013 — Ishak Belfodil, Inter Milan
2014 — Alessio Cerci, AC Milan
2015 — Edin Dzeko, Roma
2016 — Geoffrey Kondogbia, Inter Milan
Most Read in football
Gabigol becomes the SEVENTH Inter player to win the "award".
Vieri was at the club for the first half of 2005, before flopping at rivals Milan.
Diego Milito won the award just a year after his two goals saw the Nerazzurri win the Champions League.
There is hope, though, as Dzeko finished as the top goal scorer in Serie A just a year after being named the worst player in the competition.