Cuca to use week of training to pick Gabriel Bontempo replacement at Santos | OneFootball

Cuca has a week on the training ground to choose who replaces the undisputed starter Gabriel Bontempo for Santos’ rescheduled 21st round match against São Paulo.

The sides meet at Morumbis on two October at 20:00 Brasília time. According to Globo.com, Bontempo misses out because he is with Brazil for a friendly against India the next day, and he is suspended after his third booking against Remo.

Arthur is one option. He has said he can play three midfield roles, so could slot in alongside Rollheiser.

Cuca could also look to Everton Cebolinha. He debuted against Cruzeiro as a wing or wide forward in a 3-6-1, and might form a front three with Gabigol and Rony or Barreal, if the Argentine recovers from a left thigh injury.

New signing Lima is another possibility, although he is yet to start under Cuca and has only been used late on.

Rodinei is a further route, having featured as a right midfielder for Olympiacos in Greece. That would allow Igor Vinícius to come in at right-back with his team-mate moving into midfield.

A less likely pick is Miguelito, who recently had minutes against Internacional and Cruzeiro but has not matched his form before the World Cup pause. There is also a remote chance Cuca adds a third holding midfielder, which could open the door for João Schmidt alongside Gustavo Henrique and Christian Oliva.

Source: Globo.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”