Grêmio’s 2025: early exits, political turmoil and financial strain | OneFootball

Grêmio’s 2025 was one to forget, ninth in the Brasileirão, early cup exits and defeat in the Gauchão, yielding only a Copa Sudamericana place.

According to Globo.com, Alberto Guerra’s final year opened with Renato Portaluppi leaving and Gustavo Quinteros, fresh from a Vélez Sarsfield title, taking charge.

Inter won the state final, 2-0 at the Arena and 1-1 at Beira-Rio. Quinteros was dismissed soon after. Mano Menezes replaced him with Felipão as technical coordinator, but CSA then eliminated the side, 3-2 in Maceió and 0-0 at home.

Election-year politics swirled as businessman Marcelo Marques entered, withdrew, briefly returned, then left the race, leaving Paulo Caleffi and Odorico Roman as the main contenders.

Marques still injected R$ 50 million to end Grupo Metha’s Arena control and another R$ 80 million to buy two thirds of its debt, lifting the stadium lien.

Alianza Lima also prevailed in the Sudamericana play-off in July, 2-0 in Peru and 1-1 in Porto Alegre. Following a home defeat to bottom-placed Sport, Menezes stayed.

Reinforcements arrived, including Carlos Vinicius and Balbuena, financed by a R$ 63 million loan from Marques, repayable over 60 years. A derby win at Inter lifted form but not enough for Libertadores.

Finances tightened, with loans covering wages, debt at R$ 377 million, Alfa Bet’s deal terminated over about R$ 12 million, and a November FIFA transfer ban over R$ 7 million owed to Granada for Arezo. Ernst & Young were hired to audit and advise.

Source: Globo.com