Cruzeiro turn down fresh Santos loan move for Gabigol | OneFootball

Gabigol’s future at Santos has taken a new turn after Cruzeiro refused to extend the loan. As a result, buying his economic rights has become the path for the striker to stay in 2027.

RTI Esporte Agency has learned that Raposa is not considering, at this time, another loan to the São Paulo club. The decision forces Santos to negotiate directly with the Minas Gerais side over a possible permanent transfer.

The situation leaves Santos’ planning dependent on a more complex negotiation. The club will have to assess the costs involved in the deal and find a formula that fits its financial reality.

Gabigol has a long-term contract with Cruzeiro

If Santos and Cruzeiro do not reach an agreement over the transfer, the No. 9 will have to return to Belo Horizonte at the end of the loan spell. The striker’s contract with Raposa runs until the end of 2028.

The length of the contract increases Cruzeiro’s bargaining power. With no possibility of another loan, the Minas Gerais team keeps the player under contract and will be able to set the terms for any eventual permanent departure.

For Santos, the issue necessarily comes down to the financial impact of the deal. Signing Gabigol involves not only possible compensation to Cruzeiro, but also the costs related to the striker’s salary.

Salary weighs on the negotiation

Gabriel Barbosa earns approximately R$3 million per month at Cruzeiro. The amount is one of the main factors Santos must consider before moving forward with a permanent deal.

Keeping the player would require a deal involving both the purchase of his rights and the striker’s wages. The model will depend on the terms negotiated between the clubs and Peixe’s financial ability to take on the commitment.

Santos will have to define its strategy for 2027

The decision by the Cruzeiro board reduces the alternatives available to Santos. If the intention is to keep Gabigol next season, the route indicated at this point is to buy the center-forward.

If no agreement is reached, the striker will have to report back to Cruzeiro in 2027. From that point on, it will be up to the Minas Gerais club to define the next steps under a contract that will still be valid until December 2028.

The scenario also puts the Santos board in front of a planning decision. Signing Gabigol permanently would mean taking on a long-term financial commitment, while the player’s departure would force the club to look for another solution for the attack.

Cruzeiro, in turn, has made its position clear in the talks: it does not intend to repeat the loan model. Based on that decision, any attempt by Santos to keep the striker will depend on a permanent transfer negotiation.

Until an agreement is reached, Gabigol’s future remains tied to his contract with Raposa. Santos may seek a solution to keep him, but in light of the refusal of a new loan, it will have to assess whether it can make the deal financially viable.

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