The coaching staff led by Cuca ended the semester concerned about the lack of options in the defensive sector.
Due to injuries and the lack of reinforcements, the right-back and left-back positions have become the club’s absolute priority for the next transfer window, according to ge.
The Crisis at Right-Back
The position has become a real puzzle for the coaching staff, combining injuries and pressure from the fans:
Igor Vinícius: He established himself as the undisputed starter with 26 matches played, but has been playing through pain. The player has a broken toe and has been receiving injections to manage the pain and take the field.
Mayke: He is dealing with chronic knee pain. After undergoing a PRP procedure in March to speed up cell recovery, he will need to repeat the process. Beyond the physical issue, he also faces strong rejection from the fans. On a high salary and under contract until 2027, Santos does not rule out an agreement for an amicable termination.
Lack of backups: With JP Chermont on loan at Coritiba (and with no intention of an early return), Cuca had to improvise by using Davizinho, an under-20 forward, to cover the position.
The Situation at Left-Back
On the left side, the lack of squad depth is equally concerning:
Escobar: He is the only natural option in the current squad. With 25 appearances this year, the Argentine’s contract expires at the end of this season.
Vinícius Lira: The young backup suffered a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in March and will not play again this year.
Rafael Gonzaga: The 18-year-old prospect even made four appearances for the senior team, but the coaching staff felt he still needs to develop and sent him back to the under-20s.
Improvisations: When Escobar is unavailable, Cuca has turned to stopgap solutions, moving either forward Barreal or center-back Luan Peres into the role.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
