Santos send Rafael Freitas back to Guarani after Copinha stint | OneFootball

According to Diario Do Peixe, Santos have sent striker Rafael Freitas back to Guarani, ending his loan. The football department told him he is not in the first-team plans and he will rejoin the Bugre.

The 20-year-old played six Copinha games, his final youth tournament after ageing out. He was on the bench for the 25 January Paulista draw with Bragantino at Neo Química Arena.

Since then he has trained with the seniors but has not been a first choice, with Gabriel Barbosa, Thaciano, Lautaro Díaz and under-20 forward Fernando Pradella among the options. He joined Santos in August 2024 and impressed for the under-20s, scoring three in six in the Paulista and featuring in two Brasileiro de Aspirantes games.

He hit a brace against Botafogo in the Brasileiro Sub-20 before suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the 4-2 comeback win at São Paulo in Cotia on 27 March. He started that match but was withdrawn after 20 minutes with a knee twist. Surgery followed in early April and he only returned at the start of this season.

Signed on loan from Guarani, his deal was due to end on 31 July last year and was extended to 31 July this year. Santos wanted to assess his recovery before any permanent move, which would have cost R$ 1.2 million.

Born in Casa Branca, he debuted for Santos in a 4-1 friendly at Coritiba on 16 March last year and played six Série B games for Guarani in 2024.

Source: Diario Do Peixe