What has changed at Grêmio since the last game | OneFootball

Just 35 days after last season ended, Grêmio open 2026 against Avenida on Saturday with sweeping changes across squad, staff and the board.

According to Globo.com, the club start the year without a main shirt sponsor after terminating with Alfa late in 2025, and New Balance will not supply kits until March, so Umbro remains in use.

Only one signing is confirmed, left-back Caio Paulista on loan from Atlético-MG, and he is in line to start the Gauchão opener while Marlon recovers from a muscle injury. Academy product Tetê is close to being announced in the coming hours. The club are also pursuing a midfielder, a holding midfielder and a goalkeeper.

After the Brasileirão, Odorico Roman took office as president and the football department was overhauled. Paulo Pelaipe replaced Luís Vagner Vivian as executive, and Antônio Dutra Jr became vice-president of football alongside director Rafael Lima.

Portuguese coach Luís Castro was hired the week after the Brasileirão. He brought assistants Vítor Severino and Pedro Mané, goalkeeping coach Daniel Correia, analyst Nuno Baptista, and fitness coaches Nuno Cerdeira and Roberto Júnior, Betinho. Apart from Betinho, ex-Flamengo and Brazilian, all are Portuguese. Later, Hugo Ribeiro was named head of scouting, with James Freitas and goalkeeping coach Mateus Famer leaving, and logistics supervisor Pedro Aguiar joining Fortaleza.

Exits are extensive, with Alysson sold to Aston Villa. Enzo returned to CSA and was loaned to Athletic, Alex Santana went back to Corinthians, Adriel rejoined AVS of Portugal on loan, Arezo returned to Peñarol, Ronald to Fortaleza, João Lucas to Remo, Camilo has a move to Chapecoense lined up, Jemerson terminated his contract, Lucas Esteves is out of the plans and will only report on the 12th, Jorge joined Ceará on loan and Jardiel left for Novorizontino on loan.

The Gauchão will run without midfielder Villasanti, centre-forward Braithwaite and midfielder Monsalve. Villasanti continues rehab after left knee surgery. Braithwaite is sidelined by a ruptured left Achilles tendon, and Monsalve requires surgery on his left ankle.

Source: Globo.com