What Happened in Brazilian Soccer Yesterday (Thursday, October 23th, 2025)

Atlético-MG

• Two points away from the relegation zone, Atlético-MG fights to avoid dropping in the Brazilian Championship while also competing for a spot in the Copa Sudamericana final against Independiente del Valle.

• After over four months injured, midfielder Patrick returned to partial training with Atlético-MG and is close to being available under coach Jorge Sampaoli.

• Atlético-MG terminated the contract of midfielder Vitinho, 20, who returned to Brazil after a loan in Latvia and is now a free agent.

Bahia

• Bahia’s U-20 team thrashed Cruzeiro-PB 7–0 to advance to the round of 16; David Martins scored a hat-trick, and their next opponent will be Fortaleza.

• Rodrigo Nestor may face São Paulo while on loan at Bahia: his contract allows it, and he was already listed for the first-leg match.

Botafogo

• Botafogo began scouting for 2026, focusing on players with lower salaries and high growth potential, prioritizing defensive midfielder and left-back positions amid budget cuts and financial uncertainty.

• The club faces internal conflict regarding the payment of the Club World Cup prize of R$15 million. Management proposed paying it in 12 installments, angering players who demand a larger immediate share.

• The Eagle company appealed in court to suspend John Textor’s authority at Botafogo, accusing him of misuse of SAF resources to fund other clubs. They request he be barred from decision-making until further review.

Ceará

• In the 2026 Cearense draw, Ceará (Group B) aims for a third straight title. Fortaleza seeks to regain the crown, and Ferroviário hopes to end its drought. The tournament runs from January 7 to March 8, featuring: Group A (Quixadá, Horizonte, Maracanã, Ferroviário, Fortaleza) and Group B (Ceará, Maranguape, Tirol, Iguatu, Floresta).

Corinthians

• Heitor, a 17-year-old midfielder from Corinthians’ U-17 team, extended his contract until 2028, raising release clauses to R$16 million domestically and €50 million abroad — a 60% increase.

• Corinthians was ordered by the Labor Court to pay R$50,000 in moral damages and a monthly pension of R$12,000 until 2035 to former player Kauê Moreira, totaling about R$2.5 million.

• The São Paulo Civil Police opened an investigation into qualified theft concerning missing sports materials at Corinthians, alongside the club’s internal audit.

Cruzeiro

• Cruzeiro is in great form and has drawn international interest for young players like Kaiki, Kauã Prates, and Bruno Alves, who may be transferred at the end of the season.

• Winger Sinisterra has recovered from a muscle edema and may reinforce Cruzeiro against Palmeiras on Sunday.

• Cruzeiro will host Corinthians in the first leg of the 2025 Copa do Brasil semifinal and play the return leg in São Paulo.

Flamengo

• Pedro fractured his right forearm, is immobilized, and will miss Flamengo’s Libertadores semifinal against Racing.

• Flamengo scored only seven free-kick goals in the past five years, and Filipe Luís admitted the team hasn’t trained much due to the congested match schedule.

• Defender Cleiton, 22, did not renew with Flamengo and signed a pre-contract with Wolfsburg, joining the German club in 2026.

Fluminense

• Coach Zubeldía will have ten league matches to rebuild Fluminense’s confidence and prepare for the Copa do Brasil semifinal against Vasco, counting on the returns of Ganso and Nonato.

• Fluminense aims to secure a Copa Libertadores 2026 spot — either through the league or Copa do Brasil — which could yield up to R$139 million in revenue, nearly triple that of the Sudamericana.

Fortaleza

• Thirteen former Fortaleza presidents met at Alcides Santos Stadium with Marcelo Paz and Rolim Machado, visiting the Trophy Room and attending the team’s penultimate training session before facing Flamengo.

• Fortaleza’s U-20 team crushed Piauí 5–0 (goals by Bruninho, Lucas Emanoel x2, Fashanu, and Riveros) and will play Bahia in the round of 16, with the rival hosting the decisive match.

Grêmio

• Grêmio’s U-17 stars Mec, Luis Eduardo, and Tiaguinho have combined release clauses totaling R$1.3 billion and will compete in the U-17 World Cup.

• With Marcos Rocha sidelined for up to a month, Grêmio faces a battle at right-back between Gustavo Martins and João Lucas, while Tiago Volpi, Arthur, Alysson, and Monsalve are back for the Juventude match. After a 5–0 loss to Bahia, the team sits 12th in the league.

Internacional

• In one month at Internacional, Ramón Díaz implemented tactical variations with a back three, gave opportunities to young players, and sought balance between defense and attack to lift the team out of the relegation zone.

• Defender Vitão suffered a knee injury and will miss the match against Fluminense, expected to return only against Atlético-MG.

• Alan Patrick, Carbonero, and three academy players will reinforce Internacional against Fluminense amid injuries and suspensions.

Juventude

• Coach Thiago Carpini remains uncertain about Juventude’s lineup to face Grêmio, considering possible changes in defense and attack. Marcos Paulo is doubtful due to injury, and Reginaldo or Ênio may start.

Mirassol

• Guilherme Marques thanked Mirassol for trusting him after a severe knee injury, celebrated his return as a starter, and highlighted his goal against Fluminense. The midfielder praised the city’s adaptation and urged focus ahead of the Sport match.

Palmeiras

• LDU 3 x 0 Palmeiras — In the Libertadores semifinal, Palmeiras was defeated 3–0 in Quito with two goals by Villamil (22) and one by Alzugaray (34). The team must win by four goals at Allianz Parque to reach the final.

• Palmeiras signed a new two-year sponsorship with CIMED, which will feature on the jersey collarbone area and provide medications and supplements to the squad.

Santos

• Neymar, 32, had his return postponed and is expected to play for Santos only in round 32 against Flamengo on November 9 after completing physical recovery with NR Sports.

• In 2025, 11 academy players have featured for Santos’ senior team, with midfielder Bontempo (32 games) leading, followed by Souza (20) and Deivid Washington (20). Coach Cleber Xavier has been the biggest supporter of “Meninos da Vila.”

• Brazil’s antitrust agency CADE opened an investigation into 7Kbet and Santos for an irregular promotion exchanging R$70 betting deposits for tickets — a suspected tied sale also under review by the Finance Ministry.

São Paulo

• Emiliano Rigoni, 32, needs to play 12 matches with at least 45 minutes each to trigger an automatic renewal with São Paulo until 2026; so far, he has met that condition in only three games, making renewal unlikely.

• São Paulo purchased the rights to 19-year-old midfielder Matheus Ferreira for R$1.5 million, signing him until January 31, 2028. He has 27 games and 1,943 minutes with the U-20 squad in 2025.

• Right-back Cédric Soares missed training due to a broken toe but might still be listed for the match against Bahia on Saturday, October 25.

Sport Recife

• Coach Daniel Paulista remains in charge and will lead Sport against Mirassol this Saturday at Ilha do Retiro.

• Sport signed a partnership with Ambev through 2028: Zé Delivery will feature on the jersey, with cashback for members, Gatorade for all teams, bar upgrades at Ilha do Retiro, and Brahma draft beer from 2026.

• Sport financed the acquisition of 50% of Rodrigo Atencio’s rights with a R$7 million loan from an Elenko-linked fund, paying about R$210,000/month and R$2.5 million in interest so far. If sold early, the club keeps the profit; if not, the total payment will reach about R$12.6 million by contract end.

Vasco

• A report from Vasco’s commission on the sale of the SAF to 777 Partners alleges accounting fraud, a suspicious R$775,000 payment, and manipulation to sway members to approve the deal. Twenty-one people were indicted, including former president Jorge Salgado. The accused deny wrongdoing and claim political motivation.

• Vasco offered a renewal proposal to right-back Puma Rodríguez, whose contract expires in December. After standout performances, talks continue over salary and duration, with a decision expected soon.

• With three consecutive wins, Vasco climbed to eighth in the league — its best position since April — and now targets a Libertadores spot. Coach Fernando Diniz and star Coutinho praised the team’s momentum and potential.

Vitória

• Vitória held a tactical session under coach Jair Ventura ahead of Saturday’s match against Corinthians. Starters participated in full training, and the final squad list will be released Friday, October 24.

• After Romarinho’s departure, Vitória has already lost 8 of its 29 signings from 2025 (27%). The squad now has 32 players, with only 11 remaining from 2024, including notable exits like Janderson and former captain Wagner Leonardo.