Cruzeiro fans spot mistake by Diniz, current Vasco manager | OneFootball

An investigation released by the CEC Informs profile, after direct contact with Álvaro Barreal’s agent, has brought to light some discomfort among Cruzeiro fans: according to the agent, the attacking midfielder did not stay at the club due to a decision by Fernando Diniz, the current coach of Vasco. The revelation quickly spread on social media, with part of the Cruzeiro fanbase lamenting the Argentine’s departure.

According to the player’s representative, both the board and Barreal himself wanted to continue in Belo Horizonte, but Diniz reportedly indicated he was not sure about using him in 2025. Also according to the agent, the player still has affection for Cruzeiro, for the city, and believes he could return to the club in the future.

+ “END OF THE LINE”: Vasco makes final decision and defines departure of player with 95 appearances

Photo: Reproduction.

Leaving Cruzeiro and signing with Santos

Barreal left Cruzeiro at the end of 2024 and, in January, signed with Santos, where he arrived as a high-impact reinforcement for the left side of the attack. The delay in the official announcement, however, had a reason: the player was still recovering from a double inguinal hernia surgery, which postponed medical exams and bureaucratic steps before signing.

At Santos, the Argentine was introduced as a versatile player. Coach Pedro Caixinha even praised him publicly, highlighting his ability to play as a winger, left midfielder, and even left-back, offering depth and alternatives to the squad.

Performance at Cruzeiro and physical decline

During his time at Raposa, Barreal played 42 matches, with two goals and four assists. He had good moments in the first half of the season, but constant physical problems directly impacted his final stretch of the season.

The Argentine dealt with two chronic issues:

These problems affected his training rhythm, limited his participation in games, and led him to the medical department in the final weeks of the Brasileirão.

+ Former Vasco director wants to take jewel from Cruzmaltino

Photo: Reproduction.

Álvaro Barreal’s numbers

At Santos, in just 35 matches, he has already scored 9 times, multiplying his production in the opponent’s box.

His performance in assists, however, did not see the same growth: he made 4 assists at Raposa compared to 1 at Peixe. Still, the sum of goals and assists shows a clear upward trend.

His direct participation in goals rose from 6 to 10 decisive actions, an increase of about 67% compared to the previous year.

+ Follow Papo na Colina on social media: Thread, Bluesky, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok and Google News.

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