Brazilian press celebrates Ziyech, calling him a Botafogo bomb

Hakim Ziyech's move to Botafogo has garnered significant attention from Brazilian media, which considered the transfer one of the club's most notable moves in the transfer market, given the player's European career and experience with clubs like Ajax and Chelsea, along with his UEFA Champions League title.

Globo Sport has dedicated significant coverage to the transfer, describing Ziyech as a 'big name in Botafogo's market', noting that the club aimed to sign him to strengthen the left side of their attacking line, after the player had been on the radar of the scouting department for a long time.

Despite reaching 33 years of age, Brazilian media believe Ziyech arrives at Botafogo with significant European experience, and a career that has made him one of the standout players in his position, which has increased the value of the transfer and the expectations surrounding it.

Reports reveal that Hakim Ziyech's negotiations were threatened due to concerns about the quality of pitches in Brazil, before Botafogo's management intervened to overcome the obstacle, with the help of his compatriot Zakaria Labyad, a player for Corinthians, who spoke with him and convinced him that experiencing Brazilian football was worth the adventure.

UOL Esporte considers the arrival of the Moroccan star in Rio de Janeiro an important event, recalling his numbers during his recent stint with Wydad AC, where he scored 9 goals and provided 2 assists in 16 matches. These figures are seen as an indicator of the player's ability to contribute offensively, rather than merely entering a new phase at the end of his career.

Hakim Ziyech received a warm welcome at Galeão Airport, where a number of Botafogo fans gathered to chant his name. The Moroccan player expressed his excitement for the experience, stating that Brazil is "the number one country in football."

Brazilian media highlighted key moments in Hakim Ziyech's career, particularly his standout performances with Ajax during their historic run to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in the 2018-2019 season, before his transfer to Chelsea for around €40 million, and winning the Champions League title with them in 2021. He also made a significant impact with the Moroccan national team during the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

With this deal, Botafogo is betting on more than just a new foreign player, hoping to benefit from Ziyech's experience, personality, and technical abilities, while the club's fans are waiting for the Moroccan star to translate the buzz surrounding his arrival in Brazil into real brilliance on the pitch.