Cruzeiro reshuffle left-back options after departures | OneFootball

Cruzeiro is undergoing a complete overhaul at left-back for the remainder of the season.

With the departure of the two main homegrown options, coach Artur Jorge is now working with a new international signing, the repositioning of a familiar face, and the promotion of a young prospect to rebuild the position.

Check out the situation at Raposa’s left-back spot below, according to ge!

✈️ Departures: Kaiki and Kauã Prates headed to Europe

The team’s left flank was weakened after the departures of the two players who had been leading the position were set in motion:

Kaiki Bruno: The team’s undisputed starter since last year, the player is in Europe undergoing medical exams and has an agreement in place to join Como, of Italy, on loan.

Kauã Prates: The immediate backup who had gained space in recent seasons, the 17-year-old suffered a muscle injury at the end of April. He has already been sold to Borussia Dortmund (Germany) and will join the European club in August, when he turns 18.

🇦🇷 Gabriel Rojas: The New First-Choice Left-Back

To take over as the immediate starter, Cruzeiro’s board signed experienced Argentine left-back Gabriel Rojas, 28.

Profile and Experience: Developed at San Lorenzo, he has also played for Peñarol, Querétaro, and Racing. For the Argentine club, he made 141 appearances, scoring 5 goals and providing 22 assists.

Recent Tormentor: Rojas is a familiar name to Cruzeiro fans. He started for Racing in the 2024 Copa Sudamericana final, when the Argentines defeated Cruzeiro itself 3-1.

Tactical Assessment: According to commentator Henrique Fernandes, Rojas arrives with the ideal stature and experience for the Libertadores knockout stage. He has a more attack-minded profile than Kaiki, standing out for his forward runs, crossing, and shooting.

🔄 In-House Solutions and Youth Prospects

To round out the squad and compete for minutes with Rojas, Artur Jorge has been looking at two internal alternatives during midseason training:

Lucas Villalba: A natural left-back, the Argentine played out of position as a starting center-back in 2025. After losing ground in central defense this year to Jonathan Jesus, he could have his contract renewed and return to his natural position to fill the squad’s need.

Gustavinho: The 19-year-old was the hero of this year’s Copinha title, scoring the winning goal against São Paulo. Captain of the U-20 team and recently called up to Brazil’s youth national team, he has been integrated into first-team training and has renewed his contract through the end of 2029.

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

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