A year ago, Igor Thiago joined Club Brugge. Anderlecht, however, was also interested.
Yesterday, Anderlecht faced Ludogorets in the Europa League, having already faced the Bulgarians two years ago, during Brian Riemer’s first season. A certain Igor Thiago had sent the two teams to extra time then to penalties at Lotto Park (before Bart Verbruggen pulled out all the stops to ensure qualification).
A few months later, the striker signed for Club Brugge. Anderlecht had also expressed their interest. La Derniere Heure reports that Sporting was ready to pay up to six million for the Brazilian.
Bruges plus prompt
Unlike the people of Brussels, the leaders of Club de Bruges were willing to raise the stakes even further. This is how Igor Thiago signed in Venice of the North for a sum of around 11 million.
A year later, he moved to Brentford for the treble. But not enough to make the Anderlecht management regret it. She felt that the investment was too risky. No one knows how Igor Thiago would have performed in Brussels.
Instead, the purple decision-makers preferred not to put all their eggs in one basket, investing 5 million for Kasper Dolberg and 4.5 for Luis Vazquez.