The player wanted it. The club wanted it. The calendar was ticking.
No fim de 2020, o Inter de Porto Alegre voltava seus olhos para além do Atlântico, buscando repatriar Taison, um filho pródigo do futebol gaúcho que passou anos construindo sua carreira nas estepes ucranianas do Shakhtar Donetsk. Com 32 anos e um contrato prestes a expirar em maio, o meia vivia aquele momento particular na vida de um atleta em que o retorno às origens deixa de ser nostalgia e passa a ser estratégia. A chegada de uma nova liderança ao clube — na figura de Alessandro Barcellos — criava o cenário raro em que os desejos do jogador, os interesses institucionais e o calendário do mercado convergiam para um mesmo ponto.
- O contrato de Taison com o Shakhtar vence em maio de 2021, abrindo uma janela estreita mas real para o Inter agir antes que o jogador se torne livre no mercado.
- O próprio Taison rompeu o silêncio diplomático e declarou publicamente que quer voltar ao Brasil, retirando da negociação o maior obstáculo: a vontade do atleta.
- Os representantes do meia já estão em contato direto com a equipe de transição de Alessandro Barcellos, indicando que as conversas saíram do campo da especulação.
- Barcellos, ainda não empossado, enfrenta a pressão e a oportunidade de fazer de Taison seu primeiro grande gesto político como presidente — um sinal de ambição para a nova era.
- O obstáculo que permanece é financeiro: o Shakhtar pode exigir uma taxa de liberação antecipada, e a capacidade orçamentária do Inter sob nova gestão ainda é uma incógnita.
O Inter entrava em dezembro de 2020 com um movimento calculado: trazer Taison de volta para casa. O meia de 32 anos havia construído sua reputação no clube gaúcho antes de partir para o Shakhtar Donetsk, onde passou anos no futebol europeu. Com o contrato na Ucrânia encerrando em maio, abria-se uma janela que combinava urgência e possibilidade.
O que tornava a situação mais do que especulação era o alinhamento raro de vontades. Taison havia feito o trabalho diplomático por conta própria, sinalizando publicamente seu desejo de retornar. Seus representantes já estavam em conversas com a equipe de transição de Alessandro Barcellos, o presidente eleito que se preparava para assumir o comando do clube.
Para Barcellos, a jogada tinha um valor que ia além do futebol: contratar um jogador da estatura de Taison seria um gesto inaugural de ambição, uma declaração de que a nova gestão chegava para fazer barulho. Para Taison, aos 32 anos, o retorno carregava peso real — experiente o suficiente para agregar, jovem o suficiente para ainda render no Brasileirão.
O que permanecia em aberto era a equação financeira. O Shakhtar poderia exigir uma compensação mesmo com o contrato na reta final. O orçamento do Inter sob nova liderança ainda era uma pergunta sem resposta. Mas as conversas estavam acontecendo, o jogador queria, o clube queria, e o calendário corria — em direção a um momento em que Taison poderia deixar a Ucrânia como agente livre, ou em que o Inter poderia antecipar esse desfecho com uma negociação direta.
Inter was making a calculated move to bring Taison home. The 32-year-old midfielder, who had spent years abroad at Shakhtar Donetsk, had made his intentions clear: he wanted to return to Brazil, to the club where he'd built his reputation. His contract in Ukraine was set to expire in May, a deadline that created both urgency and opportunity. More importantly, Taison's representatives were already in conversation with Inter's incoming president, Alessandro Barcellos, who was preparing to take the helm of the club.
The timing suggested something more than idle speculation. Barcellos was not yet officially in charge, but his transition team was already fielding calls about the player's future. Taison, at 32, was entering the final stretch of his career—old enough that a return home carried real weight, young enough that he could still perform at a high level in Brazil's top division. The player himself had done the diplomatic work, signaling publicly that he wanted this move to happen.
What made the situation noteworthy was the alignment of interests. Taison wanted out of Ukraine. Inter wanted a marquee signing to signal ambition under new leadership. And Barcellos, stepping into the presidency, had the chance to make an early statement by delivering a player of Taison's stature. The window was narrow—five months until his contract ended—but it was wide enough to work with.
The two "powerful allies" referenced in the reporting were the incoming administration itself and the player's own determination. Barcellos represented institutional will; Taison represented the player's voice in the market. Together, they created the conditions for a deal that could reshape Inter's midfield and give the club a veteran presence with European experience.
What remained to be seen was whether the financial pieces would fall into place. Shakhtar, even with a contract winding down, might demand a fee. Inter's budget under new management was an open question. But the groundwork was being laid. The conversations were happening. The player wanted it. The club wanted it. And the calendar was ticking toward a moment when Taison could walk away from Ukraine as a free agent—or when Inter could negotiate his release before that window closed.
Notable Quotes
Taison has publicly stated his desire to return to Inter— reporting
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does a 32-year-old midfielder's contract expiration matter so much to a club like Inter?
Because it's the difference between paying a transfer fee and signing him on a free transfer. When Taison's deal ends in May, Shakhtar loses all leverage. Inter can either negotiate now while the club still has something to sell, or wait and sign him for nothing in a few months.
But if Inter can wait and save money, why negotiate now?
Speed. Barcellos is new. He wants to show he can deliver. Other clubs might circle Taison in those final months. And the player himself—he's made it public that he wants to come back. That kind of clarity is rare. You move when you have it.
What's the risk for Inter if they wait?
Another club swoops in. Or Taison's agents use Inter's interest to drive up wages. Or the player changes his mind. The moment you have a player saying he wants to come home and a new president ready to make it happen, you don't sit on it.
Is this about nostalgia, or is Taison actually still good?
Both. He's 32 and he's been playing in a competitive league in Ukraine. That's real experience. But yes, there's also the narrative—the prodigal return. For a new president, that story matters as much as the football.
What does this say about Barcellos's vision for the club?
That he's thinking about immediate impact, not just long-term building. Taison is a statement: we're ambitious, we can attract experienced players, we're not rebuilding from scratch.