Adonis Frías shines, becomes key in Santos defence | OneFootball

Adonis Frías arrived at Santos at the beginning of September and needed little time to showcase his main virtues. The 27-year-old Argentine defender came from León, Mexico, signed a contract until the end of 2028, and quickly overcame internal competition, surpassing João Basso, Luan Peres, and Luisão, to secure a spot alongside Zé Ivaldo in the final stretch of the season.

The mission, however, was not simple. Frías landed at Vila Belmiro during a turbulent time, with the team deeply involved in the fight against relegation. The start was worrying: after just two matches, the defender felt discomfort in his calf and became a sidelined player. He returned at the beginning of October, precisely in the 3-0 defeat to Ceará at Castelão, one of Santos' worst performances of the year.

From that point on, everything changed. Under the command of Juan Pablo Vojvoda, Frías became a central piece in the defensive reconstruction of Santos. His numbers reflect this: since his return, he hasn't lost a match. He participated in draws against Botafogo, Fortaleza, Mirassol, and Internacional, and in victories over Palmeiras, Sport, Juventude, and Cruzeiro, all without Santos conceding a single goal. In total, he played 13 matches.

The solidity became even more evident in the final stretch of the Brasileirão. Needing points to escape the Z4, Santos defeated Sport, Juventude, and Cruzeiro 3-0 in succession, completing three consecutive games without being breached. This hadn't happened since the group stage of the Paulistão, when the team, then led by Pedro Caixinha, overcame Noroeste (3-0), Inter de Limeira (3-0), and Red Bull Bragantino (2-0). At that time, Frías was not yet part of the squad.

With a secure performance and a good fit alongside Zé Ivaldo, the tendency is for Santos to start 2026 with the duo consolidated as a reference in the defensive sector, an important relief after months of instability and a sign that the team can build a more solid year starting from its defense.

Upcoming Santos Matches

Santos vs. Novorizontino (first round of Paulistão) Date and time: to be defined Location: Vila Belmiro, in Santos (SP)

Palmeiras vs. Santos (second round of Paulistão) Date and time: to be defined Location: Allianz Parque, in São Paulo (SP)

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