Fewer foreigners change Jorge Rivaldo's outlook at Athletico, why | OneFootball

The new CBF rule changes the landscape for Athletico Paranaense, which has 11 foreign players in its squad. The current limit allows nine per match, but it will drop to eight in 2027 and be gradually reduced until it reaches five in 2030.

RTI Esporte Agency has learned that the impact goes beyond leaving players out of the matchday squad. The change affects squad building and increases the importance of each foreign signing, requiring decisions about which players will have a relevant role during the season.

It is in this context that Jorge Rivaldo is now being closely watched. At 22, the Colombian arrived at Athletico in July from Águilas Doradas for US$1.2 million (R$6.2 million at the time). The signing took place before the new rule, but his future at the club will be reviewed soon.

Jorge Rivaldo is still fighting for space at Athletico

Jorge Rivaldo did not begin as the first-choice option in attack. The foreign-player limit was already weighing on the squad, and his chance came against Bahia, with Kevin Viveros suspended and away on Colombia national team duty.

The forward made the most of the opportunity and scored his first goal for the club in the 2-1 win. The episode, however, does not remove the main issue: turning a one-off opportunity into a permanent place. The competition involves foreign players precisely.

Kevin Viveros is the team’s main attacking reference and leads the Brasileirão scoring charts. With 11 foreign players in the squad, Athletico already has to manage two absences per round. From 2027 onward, that equation will become even tighter.

Rule changes the logic of squad building

The reduction approved by the CBF will be gradual: eight foreign players in 2027, seven in 2028, six in 2029, and five in 2030. The governing body says the change is intended to create more space for players developed in Brazil.

For Athletico, the biggest impact is on planning. Signing foreign players will now have to take into account, beyond quality, age, and cost, the space each player will occupy in a squad with increasingly limited spots.

This creates additional pressure on newly signed players. Rivaldo has a long-term contract and arrived with development potential, but he will need to justify on the pitch keeping one of the spots reserved for foreign players.

The scenario could also influence the club’s future market decisions. With fewer places available, the trend is for the board to be more selective in upcoming international signings and to assess squad composition more rigorously.

Jorge Rivaldo’s future will depend on internal competition

The new rule does not take Jorge Rivaldo out of Athletico’s plans, but it reduces the available space and increases internal competition. The Colombian will have to make the most of his opportunities to gain importance before the limit is reduced.

For Athletico, the challenge will be to balance investments in the South American market with an increasingly restrictive rule. The change does not define Jorge Rivaldo’s future today, but it brings forward a discussion that will carry more weight from 2027 onward.

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