Willian Terminates Contract to Sign for Boyhood Club Corinthians
Thu, Sep 02.21
After making the move from West London to North, Willian has been the subject of a lot of frustration from Arsenal fans being on big wages and not performing on the pitch, scoring just once in 38 appearances. Arsenal signed the 33-year-old to a 3 year deal on a reported £150,000 (AUD 280,000) wages.
With Arsenal spending big in the transfer market again, Willian would no longer be in the first-team plans, leaving a big financial investment on the bench. Arsenal tried to move the Brazilian onto Corinthians but the club was unable to afford his wages meaning that if a deal was struck, Arsenal would have to keep paying a percentage of the winger's wages.
Instead, Willian decided to forego the wages owed to him and terminate his Arsenal contract, making himself a free agent, saving the club around £20 million (AUD 37 million).
Que noite!
— Willian (@willianborges88) September 2, 2021
Emocionante vestir novamente essa camisa!
📸 Felipe Szpak / Ag. Corinthians
#W10 #Corinthians #Willian pic.twitter.com/7NvBvAkim6
Willian will return to the club where he started, coming through the youth system at Corinthians. Willian made his debut for the club in 2006 and had a breakthrough second season at the club, earning a £14 million move to Shakhtar Donetsk.
After impressing in Ukraine, Willian had a brief stint in Russia before he moved to Chelsea for a £30 million fee. The Brazilian made over 234 appearances for the club, scoring 37 goals and winning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, a League cup and the Europa League.
After 7 years at Chelsea, Willian signed for Arsenal on a free, describing his time at the gunners as ‘the worst time that I lived as a professional’ and expressing regret that his time at Arsenal wasn’t successful.
"Unfortunately things on the pitch didn't go the way we had all planned and hoped. I received a lot of criticism, especially from some members of the press, that I had come here for financial reasons. I hope with my actions today I explain to those people and they now understand that was not the case”
"I hope it teaches some people that they should not be so quick to pass judgement on creating bad environments to make themselves important, even though I accept that's part of the game”
"All my career I have done everything to be the best I can be. I always want to win and I find it hard to accept not doing so. Unfortunately, it didn't happen for me at Arsenal and I am sorry about that”
Could Willian still have done a job in the Premier League Arsenal fans? Let us know what you think about his departure and if you want to grab the new Corinthians Jersey head in-store to Ultra HQ in Sydney or online now.
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