Grêmio end year with nine players in recovery ahead of 2026 Gauchão | OneFootball

With less than a month to their 2026 Gauchão opener, Grêmio end the year with nine players recovering. Five are serious cases, likely to return only once next season is under way.

According to Globo.com, the latest case was Marlon’s left hamstring, suffered against Sport in the Brasileirão finale, and it is not a concern for the start of pre-season. Tiago Volpi, Erick Noriega, Balbuena, Braithwaite, Cristian Olivera, João Pedro, Rodrigo Ely and Villasanti also began holidays under special supervision.

The most severe problems involved Villasanti, Balbuena and Braithwaite, all of whom had surgery. Noriega tore ligaments in his left ankle but did not require an operation.

Timelines: Balbuena, fibula fracture in the right ankle, first quarter of 2026. Braithwaite, ruptured left Achilles, from April 2026. Cristian Olivera, grade two sprain of the left ankle, available from 2 January.

Erick Noriega, complete tibiofibular anteroinferior rupture and partial talofibular anterior tear, first quarter of 2026. João Pedro, removal of thrombosis in the right shoulder, first quarter of 2026. Marlon, left hamstring strain, available from 2 January.

Rodrigo Ely, ruptured ACL with MCL and medial meniscus damage in the left knee, first quarter of 2026. Tiago Volpi, wrist pain, available from 2 January. Villasanti, ruptured ACL and lateral meniscus in the left knee, from April 2026.

Grêmio started the close season on Monday and will report back on 2 January, with some medicals brought forward into December. Their first 2026 fixture in the Campeonato Gaúcho is set for the weekend of 10 and 11 January.

Source: Globo.com