Sérgio Coelho denies rift with Hulk, assures club legend will stay | OneFootball

The president of Atlético (association), Sérgio Coelho, vehemently denied the information that the club was considering terminating the contract with forward Hulk at the end of the season. The number 7, the most recent idol in the club's history and under contract until December 2026, is experiencing a rough patch, currently a substitute in Jorge Sampaoli's team, but still has the support of the management.

Even in his least brilliant year with the black-and-white jersey — scoring 16 goals and providing five assists in 2025 — Hulk was decisive again last Tuesday night (21). He came off the bench and assisted Dudu's goal in the 1-1 draw against Independiente del Valle in Ecuador, in the semifinal of the Copa Sudamericana.

After the match, in an interview with ESPN, Sérgio Coelho expressed surprise at the speculation regarding the future of the number 7.

The president emphasized that the club is not considering termination and highlighted the respect for contracts, especially when it comes to a player of Hulk's stature: “We honor our contracts, regardless of whether the player is performing well or not, whether they are an idol or not. Especially with Hulk, we would never think of doing such a thing”.

Talks with Investors and Internal Shielding

Sérgio Coelho also revealed that he immediately reached out to the 4R’s, the club's investors, as well as Galo's CSO, Paulo Bracks, and the director of football, Victor, to confirm if the information had come from any internal comment; “They were unanimous in saying they would never do that”.

The president also mentioned that he personally spoke with Hulk to shield the team on the eve of an international decision.

Only Leaves If He Wants

Although he assured Hulk's stay, Sérgio Coelho stated that if the athlete expresses a desire to pursue another path, the club will consider any proposals. Even so, the management's position is categorical: the move will never come from Atlético.

Sporting Scenario

Currently a substitute, Hulk is trying to regain his place in Sampaoli's team. Despite more modest statistics in 2025, the number 7 remains a technical leader, a recent symbol of the club's greatest achievements, and a reference for the fans.

With the internal atmosphere calm and the idol backed by the presidency, Atlético now focuses its efforts on the important match against Ceará in the Brasileirão and the return game against Independiente del Valle at Arena MRV next Tuesday (28) in pursuit of another continental final.

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