Speaking in an exclusive interview with L’Équipe, Vanderson (22) revealed that he turned down the chance to join Brentford before ultimately opting to join AS Monaco in January 2022.
Vanderson joined Monaco from Brazilian side Grêmio for a reported €11m fee. He quickly hit the ground running with Les Monégasques, establishing himself as a starter. He displaced Ruben Aguilar, who has since left the club to join RC Lens. His form has been rewarded with his first call-up to the Brazilian national team. He made his debut for the Seleção in the summer. He then featured in Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Peru in the September international break and has been called up for the international break in October as well.
However, things could have been very different. Vanderson revealed that at the time of joining Monaco, he had the option to join Premier League side Brentford. An option he ultimately declined, despite initially accepting. “After Grêmio’s relegation to Serie B, I knew I was going to leave. The club and my parents spoke with Brentford. We had said yes, but Monaco came in with a more interesting and ambitious project for me, and also for Grêmio. So we opted for ASM, a club where young players can express themselves,” said Vanderson.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
