After playing 61 games for Clermont in Ligue 1 over the previous two seasons, Teesside residents were hopeful that Boro had signed a player who would finally end the team’s quest for a future left-back.
Borges endures challenging start to his debut season with Middlesbrough
But Borges suffered through a Riverside nightmare during the first few months of his Middlesbrough tenure.
His move from French football to the English second division was anything than seamless due to defensive issues, his responsibility for several goals, and a glaring lack of confidence and belief.
Because of his performances, the Brazilian soon became the object of fan ire, and some fans have already dismissed him as a botched recruitment attempt.
Borges talked candidly about his initial months of testing as a Middlesbrough player in an interview with the club’s website through The Northern Echo.
“First when I arrived expectations were high,” he stated. “Boro is a large club, and although I was thrilled to join, things didn’t work out for the first four or five months.”
“I wasn’t myself on the pitch or emotionally. During the first six months, I told my wife that I couldn’t be myself and express the emotions I usually do.
“That fire wasn’t something I was playing with. I found it difficult. In games, I was having trouble. I can appreciate the supporters’ annoyance and the reasons behind their initial dislike of me.
“For me, the weather was a major issue. I wasn’t used to the darkness at 4 p.m. However, I started concentrating on the football game I had come to play. After a challenging six months, things have improved.
With popular former loan star Ryan Giles returning to Middlesbrough on 23 January, Borges was quickly relegated to the bench, with Carrick opting to side with the left-back he once got so much out of during his 2022/23 campaign on Teesside.
This could’ve been when Borges drifted away into the Riverside shadows, but instead, it would help act as the catalyst for his Boro revival.
Middlesbrough’s injury crisis has paved way for Borges’ Boro U-turn
Borges was given another chance after being benched for the team’s losses to Sunderland and Sheffield United, respectively, following Giles’ two lacklustre appearances after rejoining the team.
After the final whistle at Ashton Gate, Boro’s Brazilian demonstrated what all Teessiders want more than anything from those who wear their club’s symbol on their chest: passion. Middlesbrough may have lost the next two games to Watford and Bristol City.
Boro then headed into a must-win matchday 31 trip to relegation-threatened Stoke City, with Carrick’s job potentially on the line if his side dropped to a sixth-straight defeat.
That wouldn’t be the case, however, as Middlesbrough ran out 3-1 winners, on a night where Borges put in one of his best performances of the season.
Over the following few games, injuries would begin to pile up in the centre of Middlesbrough’s defence, with Rav van den Berg, George Edmundson and Dael Fry all unavailable by the time Boro faced QPR on 11 March.
That meant Borges, and a 36-year-old and far from fully fit Jonny Howson, would have to form a makeshift centre-back pairing. Supporters watched on in disbelief, but not because of how bad things were; quite the opposite, in fact.
The pair put in an immense display of resilience and overcoming adversity. Boro fans had long fallen in love with Howson given the fact he’s been starring for the club since 2017, but for Borges, it was a night that truly earned him a place in the hearts of Middlesbrough fans.
With every throw-in, corner, tackle and free-kick won, a great big Brazilian roar echoed around the Riverside. Every gesticulation towards the crowd urging them to crank up the volume levels was met with a response.
As such, Middlesbrough fans now celebrate at the sight of seeing him on the teamsheet – quite the opposite reaction to earlier in the season.
Borges’ demonstration of passion and desire to play for the badge has been a breath of fresh air, and should he carry on doing so, it won’t be long before he reaches cult hero status on Teesside.
