As Willian slowly walked off the Craven Cottage pitch after Saturday’s final home game of the season, family by his side, the Fulham fans delivered an ovation that was striking because of its uncertainty.
No one seemed sure whether this was goodbye or see you in August - though both player and supporters would rather it be the latter.
The Brazilian is out of contract after next weekend’s finale away to Manchester United and is yet to hear if a new deal is on the table.
But the former Chelsea star wants to continue calling west London home having proven to himself, more than the observers who had written him off, that he is still of Premier League calibre.
Willian joined Fulham on September 1 following a year at home with boyhood club Corinthians. Eyebrows were raised about the return to England considering the miserable campaign he spent at Arsenal before parting ways 12 months into a three-year deal that should only be expiring next month.
But, by mirroring Marco Silva’s team in exceeding expectations, he has scored five goals and provided a fourth assist of the season for Aleksandar Mitrovic’s second on Saturday.
“It didn’t work as I expected,” Willian said of his time with the Gunners. “Then I went back to Brazil and I think some people thought I was finished. I proved, not for them but myself, that I could play in the Premier League again.
“A lot of people didn’t believe I could come back to the Premier League and do the same job I have been doing a lot of years ago. I just want to keep going, playing with a smile on my face.
“I have a contract until the end of June and I don’t know what is going to happen. But it’s a place that I feel good to play. Let’s see. I have to speak with the club to see the situation and let’s see what can happen.”
There is something about this corner of London that Willian loves. He can’t put his finger on what exactly but the feeling at Fulham is “really the same” to his seven years over the road at Stamford Bridge.
“I feel the same affection from the Fulham fans. I have big, big respect for the Chelsea fans as well. They treat me good. When I play they always chant my name. I’m happy for that. If I can stay here that would be good.”
On top of setting up Mitrovic for his second in Saturday’s entertaining draw, he almost scored an “unbelievable goal” of his own with a trademark long-range shot.
But he was upset by how Joel Ward levelled for Palace, who had led through Odsonne Edouard, because it denied Fulham the opportunity to set a club record for points in a Premier League season with one match to spare.
“It wasn’t bad but of course to concede that goal was disappointing. We wanted to win the game, we wanted three points. But we have to be proud of what we did this season. It was an amazing season for us. We now have the last game to play and we still have to believe we can break the record.”
As for Mitrovic’s big impact in his first start since being banned for shoving referee Chris Kavanagh in March, Willian added: “He’s an important player. When he doesn't play we miss some aspects.”
