Gabriel Barbosa joins Benfica from Inter Milan on season-long loan after Burnley deal falls through on transfer deadline day

EXCITING Brazilian striker Gabriel Barbosa has joined Benfica after seeing his move to Burnley collapse at the last minute.

Inter Milan’s talented forward was tipped for a surprise move to Sean Dyche’s Premier League battlers.

Instagram @slbenfica

Instagram @gabigol

But Barbosa, nicknamed ‘Gabigol’, failed to secure a Turf Moor switch after his application for a work permit was turned down.

However, all was not lost for the 21-year-old, with Benfica more than happy to snap him up.

The Portuguese champs were in the market for a new attacker after selling Kostas Mitroglou to Marseille.

Benfica have paid £1.5million to land Barbosa on a season-long loan and will cover around 40 per cent of his wages.

There’s also an option to buy the ace for £23m next summer – £4m less than Inter paid for him a year ago.

And after scoring just once in Italy, Barbosa is hoping for better luck at his new club – and he could even be joined by girlfriend Rafaella Santos, the sister of Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar.

Twitter @SLBenfica

Rex Features

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER: ENGLAND NOW 33/1 TO BEAT MALTA WITH SUN BETS

He said: “I am very happy to join Benfica, a large club which is the largest in Portugal.

“I hope to help, I’m here to learn and help my teammates with their jobs. I hope to train well because I want to learn a lot.

“I still have to talk to the players but at this club I don’t need presentations. I want to prove who I am on the field.

“I’m as happy as when I came to Inter, which is where I grew up and learned a lot. So now I am at a new stage in my career and I want to help the team win trophies.”

EPA

Instagram @gabigol