Sampaoli shows interest in Eduardo Sasha, striker open to Atlético return | OneFootball

Atlético may have a familiar face returning to Cidade do Galo. According to an investigation by Portal Deus Me Dibre, people close to coach Jorge Sampaoli have reached out to Eduardo Sasha, currently at Red Bull Bragantino, to inquire about a possible return to the Minas Gerais club. The initial information about the interest came from journalist Thiago Fernandes, of Band Minas, and was confirmed by the report.

Sampaoli, who worked with Sasha at Atlético in 2020, holds the striker in high regard and sees in him a profile that fits well with his style of play. The communication between people close to the coach and the player signals that his name is being carefully considered by the coaching staff as they build the squad for 2026.

On the other side, the reception is also positive. Even though he is happy at Red Bull, the report confirmed that Sasha views a possible return to Galo favorably, a club for which he has great affection. The striker, who won multiple titles with the Alvinegro — the Brazilian Championship, Copa do Brasil, Mineiro, and Supercopa do Brasil — also enjoyed the city very much.

Stats at Bragantino and Atlético

At 33 years old, Sasha has been at Red Bull Bragantino since 2023. For the Bragança Paulista club, he has played 140 matches, scored 40 goals, and provided 16 assists. In 2025 alone, he scored 9 goals and made 5 assists, maintaining consistency and experience in the offensive sector.

During his previous stint at Atlético, even without being an undisputed starter, the striker posted good numbers: 138 matches (5,973 minutes), with 26 goals and 8 assists — an average of one goal involvement every 175 minutes, a performance that was highly valued internally at the time.

When he was sold to Bragantino, Sasha brought in around R$ 5 million to the Minas Gerais club's coffers.

Prestige with Sampaoli

The good relationship between player and coach is a significant factor. Sampaoli has always considered Sasha a trusted player, due to his versatility and tactical commitment. This admiration is one of the factors driving the current interest. In addition to having worked with the player at Galo, Sampaoli and Sasha were together at Santos in 2019.

The move is still in its early stages, but Eduardo Sasha's name is on Atlético's radar.

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