Psychologically shaken by tragedy, Nicolas sidelined by São Paulo | OneFootball

São Paulo has decided not to set a date for the return of 19-year-old left-back Nicolas to activities at the Barra Funda training center.

The player will stand trial while free in the case over the hit-and-run that resulted in the death of an 84-year-old man in Barueri, in Greater São Paulo, and was excused by the board from professional duties to focus on his legal defense and emotional recovery.

As AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR learned on Tuesday night (4), given the psychological impact caused by the accident, the club’s leadership chose to sideline the player indefinitely.

The full-back’s return to the senior squad will depend on the progress of his emotional condition and strict compliance with the obligations imposed by the courts.

Sources from São Paulo’s senior leadership told the outlet that he will receive ongoing psychological support.

Conditions for Provisional Release

As established by the court decision, Nicolas must comply with a series of precautionary measures to stand trial while free:

Court appearance: Mandatory monthly appearance to report and justify his activities.

Keeping information updated: Requirement to keep his residential address permanently updated.

Travel restriction: Prohibited from leaving the district of his residence for more than eight days without prior judicial authorization.

Monitoring and Support from the Board

After being granted provisional release, Nicolas was contacted by representatives from São Paulo’s football department.

President Harry Massis, sporting manager Rafinha, and members of the coaching staff spoke with the young player to offer support.

The club will continue to monitor the full-back’s situation on a daily basis. Decisions regarding the player’s sporting future will be made gradually by the board, taking into account developments in the legal case and the player’s psychological state.

The player, whose contract with the Morumbi side runs until 2029, was included in the squad list for the recent Brazilian Championship match against Flamengo, although he did not take the field.

Youth Career and Rise to the Senior Team

Developed in Tricolor’s youth academy since the age of 10 — after initially playing for the futsal teams — Nicolas developed tactical versatility, also playing as a defensive midfielder and playmaking midfielder.

The player was promoted to the senior squad in November 2025 under coach Hernán Crespo, driven by standout numbers with the under-20 team:

Under-20 performance (2025): 40 matches played, 10 goals scored, and 11 assists provided.

Senior team record: 7 appearances for the first team, two of them as a starter.

Dual Citizenship and International Monitoring

Holder of Swiss citizenship, the young full-back had been monitored by the Swiss Football Association. During the World Cup period in North America, Nicolas was invited by the federation to watch the European national team’s tournament debut in person, and was among the names being considered for future call-ups to the country’s youth and senior teams.

The Case

Nicolas had dinner at a mall in the area accompanied by full-back Igor Felisberto and forward Ryan Francisco, who are also players for the São Paulo club. The group left the establishment in separate vehicles.

After learning of the accident, Felisberto and Francisco returned to the scene, where they remained until rescue services arrived before going to the police station to give statements.

Police report and conflicting testimony

The police report filed in the case includes suspicion that the players were street racing on a public road. The hypothesis is based on the account of a witness, who said they saw the cars traveling at high speed in the moments before the impact.

In their official statements to the police authority, all three players categorically denied taking part in an illegal race.

The 19-year-old Tricolor full-back told police that none of them had consumed alcohol and also said that an app on his phone indicated his vehicle was traveling at 50 km/h.

According to the police report, 84-year-old Paulo Rodrigues was crossing Alameda Rio Negro, in front of Shopping Iguatemi Alphaville, at around 9:53 p.m. (Brasília time), when he was struck by a BMW 220i, Nicolas’s vehicle.

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