The Moroccan winger Hakim Ziyech had already recorded a presentation video for Botafogo, signaling that the transfer was practically closed. The player had even bought plane tickets to travel to Brazil and finalize the deal with the Brazilian club.
However, after a conversation with a former player from Sporting, a Portuguese club that Ziyech had previously played for, the winger backed out and ended up "pulling the plug." The contact with the former Sporting player seems to have been decisive in changing the player's decision.
The deal ultimately did not go through, and Botafogo was left without the 31-year-old player. This episode shows how personal conversations can influence career decisions in football, even when everything seems already agreed upon between the clubs.
