West Ham told they’ve landed ‘extraordinary’ £25m man tipped to ‘conquer the world’. While most clubs would be disappointed to lose such a prized asset before he has even scratched the surface of his potential, the reaction to West Ham United’s £25 million has not been one of bitterness.
More ‘happiness and pride’. A sense of frustration, yes, that the talented forward did not unleash the full extent of his potential at Palmeiras. But gratification from the role they played in the development of young Luis Guilherme.
That West Ham United saw fit – after a brief will-they, won’t-they moment – to spend £25 million on an 18-year-old with fewer than 30 league appearances under his belt speaks not only to Guilherme’s talents, but the success of Palmeiras’ academy.
The Brazilian giants had already agreed to sell Endrick – the leading Samba starlet of his generation – to Real Madrid. Estevao Willian, another baby-faced whizzkid, could be joining Guilherme in London meanwhile.
HITC reported in May that Chelsea had agreed a package which could rise to a staggering £60 million. Guilherme, meanwhile, leaves Palmeiras having rose through the ranks and after winning the Brazilian Serie A title in 2023.
West Ham sign Luis Guilherme from Palmeiras
“Luis spent seven years with us,” smiles Paulo Buosi, the vice president of Palmeiras speaking to the club’s official website. “He was champion in all categories at the academy, he wore the professional shirt with great honour and he was also champion (in the first-team).
“We are very happy with what he built with us. He is an extraordinary boy and one of the biggest sales in the history of Palmeiras. May he have a sensational career.
“I am sure that Palmeiras will never leave his heart and that he will never leave the heart of every Palmeiras fan. Palmeiras will always be with him.”
“(I feel) happiness and pride,” adds an emotional Joao Paulo Sampaio, general manager of the Palmeiras academy. “I’m happy for the person Luis. Not only the club and his family will benefit from this, but he (will) too.
“He is an extraordinary boy and human being who will be greatly missed. He will conquer the world and will always be in our hearts. Brazilian football will have a future with him too.”
Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira is not quite so positive about the departures of Endrick, Estevao and Guilherme. The Portuguese tactician is understandably concerned about what losing the club’s prized trio in the space of one summer means for the Verdao’s hopes of retaining their title.
Tim Steidten very excited about ‘young talent’
It remains to be seen, meanwhile, what sort of a role Guilherme will play in 2023/24. Perhaps we can look at Crystal Palace as an example.
Palace snapped up another Brazilian teenager Matheus Franca from Flamengo but, rather than throw him straight at the deep end, introduced him slowly to get the Rio-born winger up to speed with the physicality of the English game.
“We are really happy that Luis Guilherme is now a West Ham United player,” beams director Tim Steidten, the 2023 Conference League champions landing one of South America’s most unpredictable and technically gifted propsects.
“He is a very exciting young talent who we have followed for some time. Once we became aware that he was available, Julen and I were determined to bring him to London.
“Luis has enjoyed a fantastic start to his professional career with Palmeiras – naturally a wide player but with the flexibility to play across other attacking positions, which is an important and valuable factor in the modern game.
“He is technically very gifted, but also has very good physical qualities – great pace, strength and stamina, and these are traits that will help him to adapt to the demands of the Premier League and English football.”
