Barreal keen to stay at Santos until 2026: "I’d really like that" | OneFootball

Álvaro Barreal has found a new lease on life at Santos since the arrival of Juan Pablo Vojvoda. The attacking midfielder went from being a substitute to becoming an important piece in the squad. Due to his recent good performances, the possible permanence of the Argentine has become a topic of discussion.

This Friday, the 25-year-old player stated that he wants to stay at the club. However, he made it clear that this is not his focus at the moment.

“I would really like to stay, my family likes it here and I’m close to Argentina, I like the city of Santos. But it’s not something I’m thinking about right now. I’m trying to help Santos, aiming to add points, which is what we need. I don’t have control over that (staying), but I want to stay,” he said.

“I’m doing my job. It doesn’t depend on me. I’m more focused on doing my work on the field. Now we have another final to try to move away from the relegation zone. My agent is more involved with that issue,” he added.

What is Barreal’s situation?

Barreal is on loan to Santos from FC Cincinnati, in the United States. The Argentine was announced in February and signed a contract valid until December 31, 2025, with a purchase option set at 4 million dollars (R$ 21.7 million at the current exchange rate).

The Gazeta Esportiva report found that Santos wants to sign the forward permanently. This interest has grown stronger after the player’s recent good performances.

Barreal is Santos’ top scorer in the current edition of the Brazilian Championship, with seven goals scored. He has also contributed one assist. In total, he has played 26 matches for Santos.

“There are a lot of Argentines here at Santos, which is good for the language, it makes day-to-day life easier. I’ve always had a very good reception in Brazil. It’s a country very similar to Argentina. There are a lot of Argentines here. It’s good because we feel close to home,” said the number 22.

In the fans’ good graces

Barreal is riding high after his strong performance in the 3-1 victory over Corinthians last Wednesday, in the 28th round of the Brazilian Championship. The attacking midfielder scored a beautiful goal at Vila Belmiro.

“I received a lot of support after the game. It was a great match. The fans were close, both before and after. It was really good. I also get a lot of messages about me staying. Now it’s about seeing the season through to the end,” he declared.

“The fans play a very important role when we play at home. This last game was really beautiful. During the match, everyone was together. That helps us go after the game,” he concluded.

Santos’ position in the standings

Santos is in 16th place, with 31 points, three more than Vitória, who are just inside the relegation zone.

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