Olympic champ: Neymar and Gabigol face tactical test at Santos | OneFootball

Santos fans are eagerly anticipating seeing Neymar and Gabigol play together. The attacking midfielder is returning after arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and will once again partner with the center forward after five years. Together, they led the Brazilian National Team to its first Olympic gold medal in history, under the command of Rogério Micale.

In an exclusive interview with Gazeta Esportiva, the coach who won gold at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games shared his thoughts on the duo’s reunion. He believes that Juan Pablo Vojvoda will face a major challenge in setting up the Peixe, especially when the team is not in possession of the ball.

“These are different times. Both were young back then. They managed to respond to certain demands I had, which today they might have to adapt to a new way of playing. It’s a new moment in the game. Neymar is now playing very similarly to how he did with me at the Olympics, through the middle, coming in from the flanks. In this role, he brings a lot of quality to the team. Gabigol, at that time, played on the wing. Today, I don’t believe he’ll play that role. Now, he operates more centrally,” he said.

“I see that their current situations are very different. Gabigol is established, has won a lot, went through a rough patch at Cruzeiro with few opportunities. He won’t be missed in Belo Horizonte. Neymar is trying to maintain consistency. They are two huge names for Santos,” he added.

Rogério Micale during the match against Colombia, valid for the quarterfinals of the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics (Photo: DJALMA VASSÃO/Gazeta Press)

New Era

Gabriel Barbosa was only 20 years old at the 2016 Olympics. In the tournament, coach Micale played him as a right winger. Neymar, meanwhile, was 24 and played as Brazil’s attacking midfielder, despite not playing that role at Barcelona at the time.

Today, Gabigol plays more centrally, as a center forward. In the matches he played for Santos this season, the number 9 floated a lot behind the defenders, but always got into the box. That’s why, in Micale’s view, the duo currently has a similar playing style.

“Both are playing in a very similar way, but Gabigol stays a bit closer to the penalty area, and Neymar has total freedom to roam the field. I don’t see Neymar going back to get the ball from the center back. I think one will play close to the other, swapping positions, always filling the space where the other isn’t. They need to have that chemistry. Neymar did that with Luan in the Olympic team,” he said.

“For these two to play together, that would be the best way. With the ball, it would also be easier. Neither of them has the stamina to chase after other players as much as before. It wouldn’t be sustainable. I’d play them very close together. The team needs to be balanced, aggressive with the ball, and competitive without it as well,” he added.

Successful Duo?

So far, Neymar and Gabigol have shared the pitch in 18 matches, with 11 wins, six draws, and just one loss. In addition, there are 10 goals and 10 assists for the attacking midfielder. The striker has found the net four times.

For Santos, they have only played together once, in 2013. That match, in fact, marked Neymar’s farewell to Peixe and Gabigol’s debut as a professional.

Besides the Olympic gold, they also paired up for the senior national team 11 times. In the 2021 Copa América, they reached the final, but Brazil lost 1-0 to Argentina at the Maracanã.

Will Gabigol Succeed at Santos?

Micale also commented on expectations for Gabigol’s season at Santos. The 29-year-old striker is on loan from Cruzeiro, where he failed to stand out in 2025 and was a substitute in most matches.

Now, back at the club that developed him, the player hopes to rediscover his best form.

“Gabigol hasn’t forgotten how to play football. Every human being has better and worse moments. He has a great chance to bounce back. He’s a great player, always showed quality. He’s decisive. But he’s coming off some down years. At Flamengo, he was inconsistent at the end. At Cruzeiro, it’s not that he didn’t get opportunities, but this issue with the coach (Leonardo Jardim), especially without the ball, weighed heavily. When Cruzeiro regained possession, they played very vertically, and Gabigol wasn’t showing much speed to keep up,” he analyzed.

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