Last weekend, Luis Henrique (22) was not in Olympique de Marseille’s starting line-up for the first time this season as the club defeated local rivals Montpellier HSC. However, Henrique was still on the scoresheet as he put the finishing touches on the 5-0 demolition.

The young Brazilian winger has made himself a key part of Roberto De Zerbi’s plans this season with four goals and three assists in eight games. But less than a year ago, it looked as if Henrique had no future at Marseille as the club looked for a willing party to buy the striker in the January window following the end of his loan at former club Botafogo.

It had looked like Henrique had outstayed his welcome and patience with the winger who arrived as an 18-year-old in 2020 had worn thin. The winger had struggled to adapt to life in Europe, and with just one goal and one assist to his name in Marseille, his time as an attacking option was mistakenly thought to be over.

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It was a mix of intervention from then-manager Gennaro Gattuso and an injury crisis that kept Henrique in the team beyond the transfer window. As Henrique explained in an interview with Le Parisien“Above all, the surprise was to return to Marseille. Afterwards I was able to play half a season and then this summer I expected a contract extension proposal to be able to help the club.”

When asked if it had been a mistake to come to Marseille at such a young age (18), Henrique was honest, “It was a very quick decision to make. It’s something I often think about. I hadn’t played 20 games as a professional. It is perhaps a common situation in Brazil, players with little experience are approached by big clubs like Marseille. At the time, Botafogo was in urgent need of money.”

GFFN | Nick Hartland