Willian has offered a detailed explanation of why he left Fulham in the summer and chose an unexpected return to Brazil. According to himself, ‘personal and spiritual’ factors played a decisive role despite having interest from English clubs.
The 37-year-old spoke to a Brazilian podcast and described the sequence of events that led him away from the Premier League.
Early approaches and Premier League interest
He confirmed that the first approach from Grêmio came far earlier than previously known. According to Willian, a club director contacted him in 2023, while he was still playing in England, to ask about a possible return.
At the time, the midfielder made it clear he wished to remain abroad and continue competing at the highest level.
Meanwhile, Willian says he later received enquiries from Brentford and Sunderland, who explored the possibility of keeping him in the Premier League or bringing him into the Championship.
Those conversations, however, did not progress after he began to feel that a move back to Brazil was becoming the right step.
A spiritual turning point after leaving Fulham
Crucially, he stressed that a “spiritual moment” influenced his decision. Willian explained that he often relies on faith when facing major choices, and that an unexpected message shifted his thinking.
A family friend, who was unaware of any negotiations, told him she had dreamt of him walking into a stadium wearing blue. According to Willian, a second person later echoed the same idea during a prayer session, which deepened his sense that Grêmio was the correct next destination.
Willian described the entire process as a mix of conviction, emotion and timing, saying he felt the club represented “an open door” at a moment of uncertainty in his career following his Fulham exit.
Now the Brazilian season has come to closure, and he ended up featuring six times for Grêmio, finishing with one goal and two assists, a modest but positive return after a late start and an interrupted campaign.
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