Having been linked with a move to the Premier League repeatedly, Felipe Anderson finally made the plunge when he signed for West Ham United in 2018.
Much was expected of the Brazilian and despite some good flashes he largely failed to match those expectations. A loan move to FC Porto was seen as a way to get the player’s career back on track, yet in Portugal things only went from bad to worse.
Shortly after joining Porto, Anderson was criticised for his commitment, with it suggested he had the mentality of someone who had arrived from West Ham on something of a gap year. There was a feeling he wasn’t aware how big a club Porto is.
The 28-year-old returned to Lazio in July and is clearly very happy to be back living in Rome and at a club where he enjoyed some success.
This week has seen Anderson speak to the media, and he’s explained that he’s now more accomplished as a player and person, having gone through difficulties since his move to England.
LazioNews24 quote him as saying: “In the last three years I have grown a lot, in every respect. Even though I played little, I got to see everything that wasn’t going well. I feel stronger, both physically and mentally, I have learned from difficulties and have grown as a person. If you are good about yourself, you are also good on the pitch: it’s all a consequence. I feel ready because this is the best phase of my life.”
