Wesley’s rise from an unremarkable start in football to securing a €30 million move to Roma is a story of perseverance. Discover how the 21-year-old right-back went from contemplating quitting to becoming a star at Flamengo and one of Roma’s biggest signings.
Wesley’s rise to prominence is the stuff of footballing dreams – and just as remarkable as it is improbable. The 21-year-old Brazilian right-back, who only took up football at the age of 17, has defied all expectations to secure a €30 million (£26m/$35m) move to Serie A giants Roma.
While most young talents in Brazil’s footballing landscape start their journey as children, Wesley’s path has been far from conventional. Growing up, football wasn’t his first passion. In fact, he had little interest in the sport until his late teens. And when he did decide to give it a go, things didn’t start smoothly.
Wesley’s football journey could have ended before it even began. After several failed trials with Figueirense and Tubarão, it seemed that his dream of becoming a professional footballer was slipping away. His determination, however, remained intact. A brief stint with Tubarão coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and like many players, he faced a period of uncertainty.
Faced with a halt in his career, Wesley contemplated walking away from the game. In a twist of fate, he worked alongside his mother and sister at a restaurant, where he started to lose faith in his football aspirations. But his sister, seeing his potential, kept sending motivational messages, urging him not to give up. These words of encouragement turned out to be pivotal.
By the end of 2020, with his enthusiasm rekindled, Wesley returned to football. A video of him playing was sent to various contacts in the football world by his agent. Within no time, Flamengo came knocking. The Brazilian giants offered him the chance he had been waiting for, and from there, Wesley’s career took off.
From Flamengo to Roma
Wesley’s success at Flamengo has been nothing short of spectacular. The talented right-back impressed immediately, earning regular playing time and helping the club with their domestic and international campaigns. His performances on the field quickly turned heads across Europe, and Roma were the first to pounce.
Roma has now secured Wesley’s signature on a five-year deal, making him the most expensive non-EU signing in the club’s history. The Giallorossi, led by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, have big plans for the Brazilian. While Wesley’s primary position is right-back in a traditional four-man defense, his versatility allows him to adapt to a right-wing-back role, offering Gasperini more tactical flexibility.
Wearing the No.43 shirt at Roma, Wesley revealed in his first interview that he hopes to emulate his idol Cafu, the legendary Brazilian full-back who also graced the Roma defense. But for now, Wesley is focused on one thing: taking his career to new heights in Serie A.
Wesley’s First Interview with Roma:
Reflecting on his unconventional path, Wesley recalled: “I kicked my first real footy in 2017, when I started trying seriously in the youth teams. During that period, I started going on trials and failed four or five times, at Figueirense and Tubarão. I finally passed the trial with Figueirense, but the club wasn’t in good financial shape. So I was informed that if I found a better option, I should notify the club, and they would let me go.
“As soon as I started playing for Tubarão, Covid hit. At that moment, I thought about stopping playing and starting working. It seemed like a sign of destiny: I wasn’t supposed to play football. So I started working with my mom and sister in a restaurant where my mom was a chef. I worked there as a parking attendant and by then I had little faith in football. I had just started and everything had gone wrong because of Covid.
“[My sister] kept sending me messages on Instagram. They were motivational texts; she wanted to push me to get back into football. So at the end of 2020, I decided to return to playing after a year off, during which I hadn’t trained at all. Tubarão contacted me asking if I would be willing to play five games with them. I accepted, since I wasn’t doing anything. But I wasn’t playing much.
“I recorded a video and my agent sent it to all his friends. From that moment on, they started contacting me for trials, then Flamengo called, again in 2021, and that changed everything.”
Wesley at Roma:
Roma fans are hopeful that Wesley will bring both defensive stability and attacking flair to the team. With his pace and excellent ball control, the young defender will surely be an asset for the Italian side as they aim to secure a strong finish in Serie A.
Now, as he embarks on a new adventure in Europe, Wesley will be looking to establish himself as one of the brightest talents in Serie A. His €30m move signals his potential, and Roma’s faith in him suggests he’s destined to shine in the European top flight.
Next Steps:
Wesley will likely make his unofficial debut for Roma in their upcoming friendly against French fourth-tier side Cannes on July 31. As he settles in at the Italian giants, expectations will be high, but if his rise from adversity is anything to go by, he will meet the challenge head-on.
