This list does not necessarily gather the least talented players of the John Textor era, our sly old man. These are the signings that cost the most and made fans the angriest. Some names turned a glance at the starting lineup or the bench into a threat to our emotional wellbeing. We believed the promises, but were left with the bill and disappointment.

1. Neto

Nothing costs more than a veteran arriving from Europe for free. Neto piled up mistakes that contributed to cup exits and cost us the will to watch the games. The player is weak, but his agent is a star. Neto played for Arsenal, Juventus and Barcelona. In the art of deception, his agent is more talented than the man in The Tinder Swindler .

2. Lucas Piazon

Lucas Piazon did not run, defend, assist or score. How did he become a professional player? How did he keep playing for so many years?

3. Patrick de Paula

One of the most expensive signings at the time, Patrick de Paula left a hefty bill and little football to justify it. Weak and ineffective, he came nowhere near making the expected difference. Leila Pereira and Palmeiras must have smiled a lot more than we did over that deal.

4. Gonzalo Mastriani

There is not much to say about him. The ball arrived and any hope of a goal disappeared.

5. Rwan Cruz

Botafogo agreed to sign Rwan Cruz for around 8 million euros, approximately R$ 48 million at the exchange rate at the time. The price already looked like a joke and got even worse when he started playing.

6. Léo Linck

Léo Linck did not need a decisive match to make a mistake. He could make one in any game. The ball only had to come near him for a Botafogo fan’s heart to ask for a substitution. His mistakes against Barcelona de Guayaquil cost Botafogo a place in the Copa Libertadores group stage.

7. Santi Rodríguez

Santi Rodríguez was unhappy with his lack of playing time at Botafogo. The problem was that, when he came on, the fans were the ones who felt uncomfortable. The deal included a fixed US$ 15 million, around R$ 85.6 million at the time, plus US$ 2 million in bonuses. What he showed was below even the minimum expected of a professional player. He arrived to replace Almada, but watching Santi was enough to replace any hope with longing for the Argentine.

8. Wallace Davi

Savarino helped write Botafogo’s historic 2024 and was one of the team’s best players. In the deal that took the Venezuelan to Fluminense, the club received money and Wallace Davi. The midfielder had little playing time with the senior team and spent part of his time with the under-20s. We traded Savarino for Wallace Davi and cash. Judging by his football, thank goodness there was cash.

9. Gabriel Pires

Lots of muscle, little football. Gabriel Pires looked the part of a midfield boss, but his performance did not match. His best move? The elegantly misplaced pass. The ball ended up at an opponent’s feet, but at least it got there with style.

10. Di Plácido

All I remember is that he was bad.

11. Lucas Halter

Lucas Halter arrived after standing out at Goiás and representing Brazil at youth level. He looked like a promising defensive prospect. At Botafogo, he made such a mess that he seemed gifted at making simple things difficult.

12. Nathan Fernandes

They called him a gem, but based on what he has shown, he was a piece of crap. Nathan Fernandes is short, physically weak and seems to leave his brain in the dressing room when he takes the field. The deal included a fixed US$ 7.5 million, around R$ 42.9 million at the time, plus US$ 2.5 million in bonuses. For that price, Botafogo got a wet firecracker that never goes off.

13. Elias Manoel

It is hard to judge Elias Manoel’s shooting because he first had to get the ball under control. Fans were still waiting for his first touch to settle when the move was already over. Maybe he could finish brilliantly. We just hardly ever got that far.

14. Joaquín Correa

Joaquín Correa was so calm that he sometimes seemed absent from the game. When he did get involved, you wanted to ask him to go back to being quiet. He had all the composure in the world to make a mistake and find a brilliant way to give a short pass straight to the opposition.

15. Saravia

Saravia never lacked desire or effort. He fought for every ball, ran and gave his all, but I have desire too and football is not the UFC. His grit could not make up for his limitations on the ball.