Adoring Besiktas fans now call him "Kiralik Katil" (The Hired Assassin.) Talisca's performance at Estadio da Luz last Tuesday, in the "Derby of Eagles" against Benfica in the Champions League, will not be forgotten by either side. The 22-year-old Brazilian is now a hero in the black-and-white part of Istanbul, and apparently cannot put a foot wrong.
On his debut, he provided a headed assist for Omer Sismanoglu in a 3-1 triumph over Karabukspor and last Sunday, just eight minutes into a tricky away match at Akhisar Belediyespor, he scored a marvellous goal to put Besiktas on the way to a 2-0 win. It was in Lisbon, though, that he became legendary with a single free kick, in one of the most unusual scripts you will read this season.
Less than a month ago, Talisca was still a Red Eagle at Benfica. His loan move to the Black Eagles of Besiktas was officially confirmed on Aug. 24. Then the Champions League draw was made on Aug. 25, putting both clubs together in Group B and sending Besiktas to visit Benfica on the very first matchday. Having escaped Lisbon, the Brazilian couldn't have imagined that he would make a return so quickly.
When Talisca entered the field as a substitute in the second half, the Benfica players knew only too well that they must avoid conceding free kicks in dangerous areas in order to protect their fragile 1-0 lead. However, a needless foul was made deep into injury time, and Talisca converted the free kick with a marvellous trademark left-footed shot to improve Besiktas' chances of progressing from a tight group that also includes Napoli and Dynamo Kiev.
Most players don't celebrate when they score against their parent club, but Talisca did. Indeed, he did so with passion and then proceeded to attack Benfica for mistreating him in a postmatch interview.
"I want to send a message to Benfica management, because they didn't respect me. There were people who criticized me and said that I left Benfica because of money, but that is a lie," the midfielder said, accusing the club of not paying him the last salary just after his daughter was born.
The club responded that Besiktas were responsible for paying the money in question according to the loan agreement, and that didn't help. Talisca became persona non grata amongst Benfica fans, and some of them took to the social networks to racially abuse him and his family.
It is easy to forget that Talisca was the most popular player at Benfica just two years ago. Signed from Bahia in the summer of 2014, he was proudly announced as a great find by the coach Jorge Jesus. Quite hilariously, Jose Mourinho wasn't happy with such bragging and claimed that Chelsea had followed the midfielder's progress for a long time.
"If Talisca could receive a work permit, he would have played in England," Mourinho remarked, starting an odd personal row between the two coaches.
Talisca's talents were certainly worth watching during his time in Brazil. The youngster scored at Sao Paolo in only his second game for Bahia in 2013, and then proceeded to net the crucial last-minute goal at Cruzeiro that saved the club from relegation. He was clearly able to perform when it mattered most, and that is exactly what the Eagles were looking for.
Unlike most of his compatriots, Talisca didn't need any time for acclimatisation. He scored eight league goals in his first three months at Benfica, and impressed everyone with his elegant style and a majestic left foot. Jesus enabled him to roam behind the striker, and the role suited the Brazilian perfectly.
Brazil coach Dunga included the new star in his squad in November 2014 and, talking to ESPN Radio, former Bahia coordinator Newton Mota even compared the man he discovered to one of the greatest Brazilians of recent decades: "People call him Yaya Talisca [after Yaya Toure], but I think he is closer to Rivaldo, who was left-footed, with long strides and good shot from distance."
Unfortunately for the "new Rivaldo," everything had changed last season after Jesus sensationally moved to Sporting Lisbon. Rui Vitoria, who replaced the veteran coach, mostly preferred a 4-4-2 formation with two pure strikers. As a result, he needed two combative central midfielders behind them, and thus Talisca's playmaking position was abolished.
"Every player has to go through such moments. There are insecurity and lack of confidence, but I am working hard. I played more under Jesus, but there is no personal feud with Rui Vitoria," Talisca said in December.
He begged for continuity, but got nothing. Even the brilliant free kick against Bayern Munich in the Champions League that left Manuel Neuer with no chance didn't persuade the coach to trust him. By the end of the season, the Brazilian was informed that he doesn't figure in Vitoria's plans.
The summer was, therefore, quite eventful. There were reports that Liverpool were interested in paying €25 million for him and then he appeared to be on his way to Wolves. Eventually, he was loaned out to Besiktas, whose fans were delighted to see their club pick up such a talented young star.
Their excitement was huge, but his immediate results have surpassed even the most optimistic expectations. Benfica get €2m per year for Talisca's loan, and lost half of that amount in prize money (as teams get bonuses from UEFA for each point earned in the UCL) when the Brazilian struck that splendid free kick just before the final whistle.
The Turkish champions are reaping the benefits of his form right now but, while they are unable to pay the buyout clause of €25m for Talisca, it is crystal clear that the Brazilian won't be able to return to Benfica and his future lies elsewhere.
At the age of just 22, the sky is the limit for him and he seems to have found the right club to flourish. If everything goes according to plan, he might yet make those comparisons to Rivaldo come true.