Transfer ban and packed schedule leave Santos facing toughest squad test in five years | OneFootball

Santos face their sternest squad examination in five years, hamstrung by a FIFA transfer ban and a packed August across league and cups.

According to Globo.com, this is the first time since 2021 that Santos remain alive in three competitions, the Campeonato Brasileiro, Copa do Brasil and Sul-Americana. League survival is the immediate fight, while the cups offer a shot at silverware.

They have 22 points, level with Grêmio, who occupy the first relegation spot. Sunday’s meeting with Athletico at 18:30 is pivotal for a group already feeling a gruelling schedule.

Centre-back Lucas Veríssimo is out with a muscle injury, and midfielder Gustavo Henrique has yet to feature since the season resumed for the same reason. Neymar is suspended on Sunday, adding to a lengthening absentee list.

There is no timetable to overturn the FIFA sanction, imposed over about R$ 12 million owed to Monaco, of France, from the 2023 signing of Jean Lucas. The club’s priority is settling overdue image-rights payments to the squad.

Cuca’s side have exceeded expectations in the cups. They start the Sul-Americana last 16 on Tuesday at 19:00 at Vila Belmiro against Ecuador’s Macará, with the return on the 20th in Ambato. In the Copa do Brasil, they will learn their opponents on Tuesday when the CBF conducts the draw to map the bracket through to the final.

Source: Globo.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”