Otávio shines and stalls Cruzeiro's hunt for a goalkeeper | OneFootball

The path of young goalkeeper Otávio at Cruzeiro changed drastically in less than three months.

Under coach Artur Jorge, the player enjoyed a meteoric rise, going from third-choice goalkeeper to the team’s undisputed starter.

The youngster’s excellent performances were crucial in leading the board to put on hold its plans to look for a new keeper in the transfer market.

Crisis in the Position and a Golden Opportunity

Cruzeiro had decided to enter the market after veteran Cássio underwent knee surgery. The first in-house alternative was Matheus Cunha, signed at the start of the season, but his early displays left the football department concerned.

With that in mind, the board even sounded out goalkeeper John, formerly of Botafogo and currently at Nottingham Forest, in a deal valued at more than R$ 40 million. The talks were only halted because Otávio took Matheus Cunha’s spot in late April and never gave it up. Before the break for the FIFA World Cup, he put together a run of ten straight matches as a starter, shining in decisive clashes against Chapecoense, Boca Juniors, and Universidad Católica.

A Transfer Target and Botafogo’s Interest

Even when he was listed as a backup at Toca da Raposa, Otávio was already attracting interest from other clubs. Last year, Germany’s Eintracht Frankfurt made inquiries about the player. More recently, in March of this year, Botafogo — facing a major crisis with its three goalkeepers — tried to sign the youngster. At the time, Cássio was still healthy and the window was open, but Cruzeiro refused to open negotiations, and Otávio himself expressed his desire to remain in Belo Horizonte.

Long-Term Project and Increased Value

The starting goalkeeper for Brazil at the last U-20 World Cup, Otávio is under contract with Cruzeiro until 2029. Aware of the player’s enormous potential, representatives from his camp recently visited Toca da Raposa for a meeting with club executives. The club presented a long-term career plan for the player, and the expectation is that the parties will soon open talks over a well-deserved salary and contract improvement.

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

📸 DOUGLAS MAGNO - AFP or licensors