Michel, Libertadores winner with Grêmio, unveiled by amateur Araranguá | OneFootball

Michel, the former Grêmio and Vasco midfielder, has joined Araranguá Esporte Clube, an amateur side in southern Santa Catarina. The 36-year-old will contest the Regional of the Liga Atlética da Região Mineira after his signing was announced on Tuesday.

According to Globo.com, the move brings the Libertadores-winning midfielder to one of Santa Catarina's most traditional grassroots competitions.

Michel lifted the Copa Libertadores with Grêmio in 2017. He also started at the Club World Cup that December, facing Pachuca in the semi-final and Real Madrid in the final.

A Porto Alegre academy product, he later played for Madureira, Novorizontino, Guarani de Palhoça, Camboriú, Atlético-GO, Fortaleza, Vasco, Operário Ferroviário, São Gonçalo and Sport Sinop, his last professional club. He made three official appearances for Sport Sinop in 2026.

His honours also include the Recopa Sudamericana and Brazil's Série B title. Now he targets silverware in the amateur game.

Araranguá, founded in 1981 and nicknamed the 'Mais Querido do Sul', are a traditional name in Santa Catarina. They previously competed professionally, winning the state Série B and a Copa SC against Figueirense.

In the amateur ranks they have two LARM second-division titles and won the LARM Série A in 2017. Past squads have featured André Santos and local forward Aloísio, the 'Boi Bandido'.

The 2026 LARM Regional begins on 26 September. AEC open on 27 September away to Içara, in a 10-team tournament split into two groups of five with the top four from each advancing to the quarter-finals.

Source: Globo.com

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