New rule puts pressure on Coritiba's foreign-player strategy | OneFootball

Coritiba have seven foreign players in the squad: Nicolás Fonseca, Brian Ocampo and Joaquín Lavega from Uruguay; Fabrício Bustos from Argentina; Sebastián Gómez and Alejandro Ararat from Colombia; and Josué Pesquera from Portugal.

The foreign presence has grown, with Fabrício Bustos, Nicolás Fonseca and Brian Ocampo arriving recently. Joaquín Lavega and Alejandro Ararat were signed at the beginning of the year, while Josué has been at the club since 2025. Sebastián Gómez arrived in 2023.

The makeup of the squad also reflects the club’s growing ties to the South American market. That movement gained another dimension with the influence of the Independiente del Valle Group, which became involved in Coritiba’s project as a minority partner.

Independiente del Valle Group gains influence in the project

The presence of the Ecuadorian group could increase Coritiba’s focus on South American players. The trend is for the club to keep that market on its radar, but it will now have to consider a restriction that will gradually become tighter.

Michel Deller, owner of the Independiente del Valle Group, and his son James Deller attended Coritiba’s 5-0 defeat to Vasco at São Januário. The growing relationship could have an impact on squad building in the coming seasons.

New rule changes space for foreign players at Coritiba

Coritiba are still within the current limit, but the gradual reduction planned for the Brazilian Championship directly affects the room for new signings. From 2027 onward, each team will be allowed to include eight foreign players in the matchday squad.

The number will drop to seven in 2028, six in 2029 and five in 2030. With seven players currently in the squad, the club’s board will have little room to expand that group without needing to make adjustments in the transfer market.

Signings will have to be more carefully planned

The change does not prevent Coritiba from continuing to pursue foreign players. The impact is on the available room to add new names to the squad. Every signing will also need to be assessed from the perspective of the limit on how many players can be included in the matchday squad.

Contracts, possible departures and market opportunities now become part of the same equation. Loans or transfers could open up space if the club decides to maintain its strategy of looking for players outside Brazil.

The issue becomes especially important precisely as the foreign presence continues to grow. The board will have to balance its closer ties to the South American market with the new reality of Brazilian football, which will gradually reduce the space for players from outside the country.

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