Arriving in the middle of summer crowned with the status of the most expensive recruit in the history of Olympique de Marseille, Igor Paixão quickly understood that the price of a record transfer comes with fierce demands. From his first minutes in the Olympian jersey, expectations were colossal. And when he struggled to find his rhythm after his summer injury, the criticism gave him no respite. But faced with doubts, the Brazilian chose the path of work and a smile.
A response worthy of the trust placed in him
Speaking on RMC, the 25-year-old striker wanted to clarify things. Yes, he had a rocky start, and yes, he heard the criticism. But Paixão refuses to let himself be locked into hasty judgments: “It’s an honor to be here. I take this amount as motivation, not pressure,” he confided, emphasizing “the wonderful mark of trust” of OM. The player returned to the support of Benatia, Longoria and De Zerbi, who recruited him despite his injury: “When the club told me they wanted me even after that, it boosted me even more. »
After several weeks of adaptation, the decision came on September 29 against Ajax Amsterdam. A double in twelve minutes and an assist transformed the whistles into applause. That evening, Paixão recalled why OM had bet 35 million euros on him.
Today, the Brazilian flourishes in the De Zerbi collective, where he says he “confident in every match”. It describes a group “close-knit, who shares the same mentality”. His permanent smile, which has become his trademark, illustrates his philosophy: “ Playing with a smile is important. A smile can change everything, even a difficult day. »
The lesson is clear: Paixão did not seek to justify himself with words, but with actions. And after a tense start, the former Feyenoord player is gradually establishing himself as one of the strong faces of the Marseille project.
Paixao, the revenge of a player who became a symbol
While its debut had raised fears of a “€35 million flop”, the tide has turned. The media today hail “a transformed winger”, capable of combining efficiency and generosity. But Paixão does not want to stop there: he is now aiming for his first goal at the Vélodrome, this Saturday against Le Havre.
In less than a month, the Brazilian has reversed the narrative. From an object of doubt, he became the embodiment of rewarded work. His message is clear: criticism belongs to the past, the future looks bright.
