These days, it’s standard practice for footballers to bid farewell to their old clubs with a heartfelt social media post – a little thank you to the fans, some warm words about the club, and a nod to the future.
But when Fábio Silva left Wolves for Borussia Dortmund and Christantus Uche departed Getafe to join Crystal Palace, their goodbye notes looked a little too familiar.
Silva’s Instagram post on Aug. 29 began: “When I arrived at Wolves, I did so full of ambition, dreams, and a desire to make my mark. I know I didn’t live up to expectations. But football and life are about more than numbers or moments on the pitch.”
Uche’s post, just five days later?
“When I arrived at Getafe, I did so full of ambition, dreams, and a desire to make my mark. I know I didn’t live up to expectations. But football and life are about more than numbers or moments on the pitch.”
From there, the wording was identical right up until the final lines. Silva signed off with “I will always be a fan of this club. Thank you, Wolves. With all my heart,” while Uche simply swapped in Getafe.
Naturally, fans and reporters alike were quick to put two and two together, suggesting the messages were churned out by the same AI template rather than penned by the players themselves.
Whether it was a case of convenience or copy-paste, one thing’s for sure – when everyone’s farewell looks the same, the sentiment hits a little less.
