(photo: Disclosure)
Commentators Caio Ribeiro and Roger Flores assessed the direction of striker Luan, who terminated his contract with Vitória. In the opinion of former players, the ‘King of America’ in 2017 is throwing his career in the trash with his attitudes off the field and is unlikely to have a new opportunity at a Serie A club.
“He didn’t play for Corinthians. He returned to Grêmio and did not play. He didn’t play for Santos or Vitória. Is everyone wrong? This boy is throwing his career in the trash”, began Caio, during the program Boleiragemof SportTV, this Monday (22/4).
“We are talking about off-field behavior that we are regretting. I’m sorry because I saw Luan play a lot of ball during his first spell at Grêmio and being an Olympic champion wearing the Seleção shirt. There are times when you have to stop transferring responsibility and assume your own, see what you are doing wrong because your career goes away,” he added.
“He will regret it up front. So, Luan, get your head straight. It takes 10, 12 years for us to earn money, bring financial peace of mind to our family and then we have our whole lives ahead of us. He is throwing away his opportunities”, concluded Caio.
“I would venture to say that he no longer plays for Serie A teams in the Brazilian Championship. You can get it later if you get a Series B, a Series C, and play too much. And then someone says: “Let’s give it another chance”. Now? I think it’s difficult”, added Roger Flores.
Luan at Vitória
Olympic champion with Brazil at the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016, attacking midfielder Luan terminated his contract with Vitória after playing just six games. The club published the termination in the CBF Daily Newsletter last Friday (19/4).
Luan arrived at Vitória in January with the status of a major reinforcement. Fatal Model, an escort platform that sponsors the club, helped arrange the deal with the star of the 2015 Brazilian Championship and 2017 Copa Libertadores.
Luan was already in decline in his second spell at Grêmio, in 2023, and at his previous clubs – Santos and Corinthians. In the last three years, he has played just 22 games, with one goal scored.
Luan enchanted Brazil
Before his career declined, Luan shone at Grêmio, for which he scored 75 goals in 293 games (combining the numbers from both spells). The number 7 was part of the winning generation of the 2016 Copa do Brasil and the 2017 Copa Libertadores.
In the continental tournament, Luan finished as second top scorer, with eight goals, including one in the second duel of the final against Lanús, in Argentina. Tricolor Gaúcho won both matches: 1-0, in Porto Alegre, and 2-1, in Argentina.
In addition to standing out at Grêmio, Luan contributed to Brazil’s success and finally achieving its first Olympic gold. At the Rio Games in 2016, the number 7 formed a strong attack alongside Gabigol, Gabriel Jesus and Neymar.
Luan scored three goals in six games in the tournament, being tied with Gabriel Jesus and below Neymar, with four. The Seleção led Group A – ahead of Denmark, Iraq and South Africa – and passed Colombia, Honduras and Germany in the knockout stages.
