Felipe Anderson: "Even Though The Club President Offered Me The Chance To Stay Beyond My Playing Career, The Opportunity To Go Back To My Homeland Came Up. After So Many Years Abroad, I Felt It Was The Right Time To Return To Brazil And Leave The Club Where I Grew As A Player."

Former Lazio winger Felipe Anderson hopes to finish his career in Rome before eventually returning to his native Brazil. The Brazilian player, now 31, didn’t expect to leave Lazio at the end of last season.

Anderson, who had two stints with the club, first arrived as a young player in 2013. He credits his sister Juliana, who is also his agent, with bringing him to Lazio. In a recent interview, Anderson shared how Juliana recognized that Lazio was the perfect place for his development.

"My sister gave up everything to support my career and fulfill my dreams, one of which was to play in Italy. Juliana flew to Italy and found Lazio, a club she immediately liked, and began negotiations," Anderson told LazioNews24.

"I was supposed to join in January 2013, but the move was delayed until June. She assured me that Lazio would help me improve both technically and physically. Juliana envisioned me in their jersey, and everything went perfectly," he added.

Anderson’s first spell at Lazio ended in 2018 when he transferred to West Ham United. Despite showing flashes of brilliance, his time in London never fully took off, and after a loan to Porto, he returned to Lazio in 2021.

Upon his return, Anderson quickly regained his place in the team, forming a strong partnership once again with Ciro Immobile and Luis Alberto. While he had hoped to stay at Lazio for the remainder of his career, he accepted an offer from Palmeiras to return to Brazil.

"No one, including me or those around me, thought my time with the Biancoceleste would end. They expected me to stay much longer," Anderson explained.

"Even though the club president offered me the chance to stay beyond my playing career, the opportunity to go back to my homeland came up. After so many years abroad, I felt it was the right time to return to Brazil and leave the club where I grew as a player."