Fluminense’s latest hero, their idol John Arias, has finally decided to fulfill his dream of playing in a major European league. However, his first few months in England at Wolverhampton were far from great. In addition to not scoring a goal or assisting so far, the 28-year-old Colombian has barely played 90 minutes on the field for the club at the bottom of the Premier League, scoring just two goals in 11 games (nine losses, two draws).
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Rumors have already surfaced regarding Arias’ return to Brazilian football due to his poor start on the Old Continent. However, according to GLOBO’s findings, this possibility is not even considered by the player’s staff at this time. If the scenario changes in the coming months, Fluminense could exercise the buyout clause. At his farewell press conference, he emotionally promised to return to the club someday.
–I can say this calmly because I’m going back to Fluminense. For me, a great lesson from my family is that you have to be true to what you feel. There is nothing in the world or money that can buy your essence, what you express, the values you carry – Arias said.
According to Diogo Dantas’ blog, Flamengo have the Colombian in their plans for 2026, but at the same time he is not a priority for the board. Last year, Palmeiras hinted at the possibility of making an offer for the player, but at the time the Tricolor board had no interest in selling him.
Despite the downward bias, Arias was recently called up to the Colombian team on this day of FIFA. The player was left off the list for October as manager Nestor Lorenzo chose to test new players such as Fluminense striker Kevin Serna.
Hired until 2028 for 22 million euros (approximately 142 million reais at the time), Arias arrived at Wolves with high morale after impressing at the Club World Cup, and it’s no wonder he was nominated for the award. FIFA The Best. The attacking midfielder, who wears the number 10 shirt, was a special request from then-coach Vitor Pereira, who had already admired him within the four-line since his time managing Corinthians and Flamengo. The Portuguese player was also sacked after his side suffered a disastrous defeat in the Premier League. He was replaced by Welshman Rob Edwards.
difficult to adapt
Arias, who played 720 minutes in 12 competitive matches, went from being one of the best players in Brazilian football to being just a supporting player in England. If adapting to a new culture and language is already a barrier to overcome, Wolverhampton’s tumultuous phase and changes in its technical staff add weight to this scenario. At the same time, he also spent time taking off at Fluminense, scoring only one goal in his first year (2021).
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— He (Arias) was sometimes used as a second striker, but not always as a midfielder playing on the wing, which I think is his best position. His team often had less possession than their opponents, which wasn’t good for him. He is not a player who contributes much defensively, but he can also function on the counter-attack, but that is not his main characteristic, insists Grupo Globo commentator Rodrigo Coutinho.
Moreover, Rodrigo believes that it is somewhat understandable that Arias is far from the level presented in Brazil. It’s natural to feel a difference in intensity in the Premier League, a league known for its constant transitions, almost no breaks during games and high physical demands on its players.
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After nearly four months of inconsistent performances in England, Arias was named player of the match in the 1-1 draw between Wolverhampton and Tottenham on 27 September. His wife, Alejandra Ayala, who had a one-year-old daughter, Zoe, with the player at the time, congratulated him on receiving the award, saying, “Little by little, you will find a space where you can show off your talents. The best is yet to come.” Let’s see if the Colombian can turn things around in the Premier League.