Post backlash sparked Arboleda mutiny, board will make an example | OneFootball

AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR learned in the early hours of this Sunday (5) that the trigger for the internal crisis involving Arboleda was a dressing-down from Rui Costa and Rafinha to the defender after Friday’s training session (3) over posts made on social media complaining about not being used regularly by coach Roger Machado. (Click here to read our opinion on the matter)

The report managed to screenshot one of those messages (see below), but according to accounts from São Paulo officials, there were at least three others, deleted by the player, as well as comments endorsing criticism of the coach made by fans in the replies.

Arboleda was called in for a private conversation after training at the Barra Funda training center and was told to stop it. Roger did not take part in the meeting, nor did he bring the matter to the board. “To be honest, he didn’t even know. They preferred to deal with it without him,” a source heard by AMT said.

The Ecuadorian’s reaction to the reprimand could not have been worse. Arboleda cleared out the locker in his room at the training center camp and has been unreachable ever since. Messages came through his staff. To journalists, the player’s representatives leaked the information that he would like to be transferred because he is not being used regularly by the coach.

That was still on Friday. This Saturday (4), after failing to report with the squad for lunch and pre-match camp ahead of the clash against Cruzeiro at the training center, the player’s family and friends did not answer even other club players. Only hours before the match did one of his agents say that Arboleda is in Ecuador and no longer wants to play for São Paulo. Club officials heard by the report doubt he could have traveled in such a short time. Resigned, the coach left him out of the matchday squad.

One of Arboleda’s controversial posts

TROUBLED RELATIONSHIP?

Asked about the matter at the press conference after the rout of the Minas Gerais side, Roger played it down and was blunt. He said the case “got out of his hands” and “has been handed over to the board.”

In truth, internally, even among players, Arboleda’s anger toward Roger is seen as something new. At least to the point of reaching this stage.

Three sources consulted by the report say the coach was cordial when he informed them upon his arrival that Alan Franco and Sabino would form the starting center-back pairing (something that had already been happening under predecessor Hernán Crespo).

Roger also reportedly called all the defenders in the squad before the match against Internacional, in which Alan Franco would serve an automatic suspension, and explained the tactical reasons for choosing Rafael Tolói.

“Arboleda had been training very poorly, with physical issues. Even so, the coaching staff did not expose the problem to the group,” one source said.

The Ecuadorian is said to have felt uncomfortable hearing that playing out from the back was one of the reasons for choosing the veteran, something he considers “one of his strengths,” according to one of the sources consulted.

“It was disrespectful. Tolói doesn’t have the same ten years at São Paulo, of course, but he’s a guy with experience in Europe, a natural leader. A guy even Luciano stops and listens to. And all this time he stayed on the bench without complaining. It went over very badly,” one player told the report.

CONSEQUENCES

Perhaps the fact that he has spent ten years at the club explains a lot about Arboleda’s attitude. With 362 matches played, he is the one who has worn the tricolor shirt the most in the current squad. And since Julio Casares’ departure and Rui Costa’s rise, as well as Rafinha’s arrival, the Ecuadorian has come under greater scrutiny over his professionalism.

If under the Casares administration issues such as late returns for preseason, using the club as collateral for bank loans, and even sounding out rival Corinthians in search of a salary increase were downplayed, this time they were not. The center-back began to be held more accountable.

Two episodes stand out. In February, the player reportedly showed up to travel by bus without wearing the club uniform, delaying the scheduled departure so he could change. And last month, the trip to Ecuador, where he was given leave to resolve personal matters and ended up being spotted enjoying a friendly featuring Messi’s team in his country. Rui Costa and Rafinha believe he went there to lobby for a call-up to the next World Cup. Even so, those episodes were not pursued further.

This time, the assessment is that Arboleda crossed every line. And the tone with his agents was harsh. The promise is that he will become an example of how indiscipline is not tolerated. He will be fined and, most likely, will not play for the club again. The squad leaders were informed of the initial decision in the Morumbi dressing room right after the match against Cruzeiro. The amount of the fine will be discussed with president Harry Massis Júnior.

On Roger’s side, there are no major concerns about Arboleda’s departure. The coach believes the position is well covered. On top of that, there are academy names such as Igão and Isaac, as well as Matheus Belém, who returned from a loan spell in Santa Catarina football with praise and has been winning over the coach in daily work at the training center.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.