While he knew that opportunities were always going to be hard to come by initially, Luizao felt that the chance to achieve his Premier League ‘dream’ at West Ham United was an opportunity he could not turn down.
There may be a feeling of unfinished business, then, as the former Sao Paulo starlet eventually leaves the London Stadium without having made a single appearance across three years of frustration and unfulfilled potential in England’s top flight.
Back in June, Luizao admitted he was open to leaving West Ham for good.
Having been bitten by the footballing bug during a loan spell at Pogon Szczecin – Luizao made his first appearance in three years over in Poland – the centre-half appeared to have little interest in returning to London for another season of reserve-team football.
So, when West Ham United confirmed via their official website that Luizao had departed ‘by mutual consent’, few would begrudge the 23-year-old a fresh start.
And, a return to Brazil on the cards with Fortaleza, it appears that Luizao will not be a free-agent for long.
Luizao to join Fortaleza after West Ham United cancel his contract
Reports back in July suggested that Luizao could replace ex-Chelsea and Arsenal defender David Luiz.
The poodle-haired 38-year-old joined Cypriot outfit Pathos recently. Thus, opening up a space in Fortaleza’s squad for a man West Ham paid £4.2 million on the back of just 14 appearances in Brazil’s top flight with Sao Paulo.
According to RTI Esporte, Fortaleza have now started talks to bring Luizao to the Estadio Governador Placido Castelo in Luiz’s place.
The club bosses have held discussions with Luizao’s representatives in order to work out the finances of a deal, after West Ham agreed to terminate the final 12 months of his £20,000-a-week contract.
Fortaleza coach Renato Paiva has given the transfer the green light. So too has Luizao, for that matter. RTI Esporte claim that Fortaleza’s ambitions appeal to him, as does the chance to play regular first-team football for the first time since 2022.
An ‘excellent market opportunity’ is reportedly how the Lion of the Pici view the opportunity which has fallen into their lap.
“I want to prove my worth, show that I can perform at a high level,” Luizao told UOL six weeks ago. “Before leaving Brazil, I was on the rise. Today, I feel like a better player than I was three years ago. More mature, more experienced.
“My goal is to be recognised again in sports.”
Luizao opened up on his relationship with Julen Lopetegui
Interestingly, Luizao admitted that Memphis Depay was partly to blame for his aborted switch to Corinthians in 2024.
The Brazilian giants had initially planned to sign West Ham’s forgotten man but instead shifted their focus towards the former Barcelona and Manchester United forward when it became apparent that Depay could be secured on a marquee deal.
Luizao, meanwhile, also feels that the appointment of Julen Lopetegui held back West Ham’s brightest talents, with Luis Guilherme and George Earthy among those denied a run of games under the Spaniard.
“Unfortunately, I had some first-team coaches who didn’t like using youngsters,” Luizao reflected.
“In the Premier League, there is this issue where clubs have a lot of money. They end up buying players who are a little more ready. I have players that I have played with there who are now on loan. Players who I believe could play in the [first] team.
“West Ham’s Young Player of the Year [George Earthy went] on loan to gain experience, because he didn’t have playing time in the first-team.”
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