Toloi injury could hand Negrucci a chance at São Paulo, here’s why | OneFootball

Rafael Toloi's injury may create an opportunity for a young player from the youth academy who hasn't been able to secure much space in the professional squad: the midfielder Felipe Negrucci.

Since São Paulo usually plays with three defenders and two of the five options are in the medical department, coach Hernán Crespo doesn't have original players to serve as options for the position on the bench.

Thus, Felipe Negrucci may be improvised as a defender, potentially getting minutes if any of the starters experience a physical problem or need to be substituted for any other reason.

Negrucci has already played improvised as a right-sided defender in matches against Santos and Fortaleza due to the lack of options in the position. In the match against Leão do Pici, for example, Crespo couldn't count on Alan Franco (muscle overload in the right thigh), Arboleda (suspended), Toloi (left thigh injury), and Ferraresi (left adductor injury).

It's not just the defense

Besides the defense, the left-back position is another major headache for Hernán Crespo at São Paulo. The Argentine coach doesn't have Wendell, who is recovering from a partial rupture of the plantar fascia in the left foot, and Enzo Díaz, who underwent surgery to correct a left inguinal hernia.

The young Patryck Lanza, a product of the youth academy, is the only option but hasn't managed to gain the trust of the coaching staff. In last Thursday's derby against Corinthians, he was substituted at halftime, and the forward Ferreirinha played improvised in the position.

For the match against Juventude, there is a possibility of Ferreirinha playing improvised or Cédric Soares taking over the position, opening a spot for Maik or Mailton to occupy the right-back position.

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