Wellington Silva is two things: frustrating and talented. The unknown quantity hails from Rio de Jainero and the 21 year old Brazilian made waves in the country.
After originally starting off at Portugesa’s youth side, he left aged 13 to join Fluminese, we he began to raise heads with his pace, trickery and eye for a pass. While in Fluminese’s academy he gained national attention for getting called up to the U17 Brazil side despite being a year younger than all his team mates. He made his first team debut a year later, catching many eyes with his pace, trickery, passing and a clinical finish. He finished his first season with 17 appearances and a goal to his name. In January he made his big move to Arsenal, where the fans heard about his title of ‘Next Robinho’ or more ludicrously ‘Next Pele’. He, however, helped the Arsenal fans perception on him with a fantastic game against Man United U21’s, where he scored a fantastic goal where he cut on this inside to finish in the corner.
Later that month he played in a closed-doors friendly against Dagenham and Redbridge where he again lived up to the tags he was getting, as he scored 2 goals and set up the third.
It all went down hill for Silva. The FA backtracked, unsurprisingly, on his ‘Special Talent’ visa meaning loan spells were due until he acquired a visa by spending enough time in the country.
Unsuccessfully loan spells at Levante, Alcoyano, Ponferradina and Murcia followed, and he never recaptured the performances and magic that got him international recognition and hopes from the Arsenal faithful desperate to see him skip past players on the Emirates turf. It seems he is slipping into footballing mediocrity. It’s not too late, he is still falling but this pre-season could be his last chance to grab his moment before it flashes, or even flashed, before his eyes.
