Santos yet to find solutions for Alex Nascimento and Caio Araújo | OneFootball

Santos have yet to resolve the futures of defender Alex Nascimento and midfielder Caio Araújo, who are training separately at CT Rei Pelé with contracts running until the end of the year.

According to Diario Do Peixe, Alex spent last season on loan at Athletic, making nine appearances, but has no move lined up for this year. He earlier had a loan at Portuguesa, playing six times, and Santos are not planning to reintegrate him despite seeking centre-backs.

A São Paulo academy graduate, he joined Santos in 2019 and debuted in 2020. Injuries and Covid-19 limited him, though he later played seven times in 2023 under Paulo Turra. His club total stands at 34 games and one goal.

He began 2024 in physiotherapy after a right ankle fracture in September 2023 during preparations to face Cruzeiro in the Brasileirão, yet still featured five times in Série B against Avaí, Amazonas, Ceará, Paysandu and Ponte Preta.

Caio has aged out of the youth ranks and was not registered for January’s Copinha. The club are considering a contract termination. He was not being used by under-20 coach Vinicius Marques, though he was in last year’s under-20 title-winning squad.

Caio joined Santos in August 2024 after time with Grêmio, playing at under-17 and under-20 level and on the bench for a 2-0 Libertadores defeat to The Strongest in April 2023. He featured in the Paulista and Brasileiro under-20 campaigns, the Brasileiro de Aspirantes and the Copinha.

Source: Diario Do Peixe