Why Juan Freytes lost his place at Fluminense, find out | OneFootball

Juan Freytes's path at Fluminense changed direction in just a few months. At 26, the Argentine center-back went from being a highly valued name on the European market to struggling for space in the Tricolor squad.

RTI Esporte Agency has learned that a drop in form and criticism from the fans caused the defender to lose the starting role he had held since last season. He is currently last in line on the coaching staff’s list of preferred options.

The situation contrasts with what he was experiencing at the end of 2025. At that time, Bologna submitted a €5 million offer (R$32 million) to sign the player. Fluminense, however, considered the amount below expectations.

With no agreement reached, Juan Freytes remained with the Tricolor das Laranjeiras. The decision was made after a run of performances that increased the belief that the Argentine defender could reach an even higher market value.

One of the key moments came at the Club World Cup, when Juan Freytes was part of the Tricolor back line alongside Thiago Silva and Ignácio Silva in the 2-0 win over Inter Milan in the round of 16.

Fluminense bet on greater appreciation

Keeping him also had a financial component. Fluminense had invested around R$20 million to sign Juan Freytes from Peru’s Alianza Lima at the start of 2025. The Italian offer would already have allowed the club to recover the amount spent and make a profit on the deal.

The club, however, believed the defender could command a higher valuation. Turning down Bologna kept the player in the squad precisely during a period when his role was still considered important to the team.

The problem is that his later performances did not match the expectations created at that time. The fans’ margin for tolerance, which was already small, shrank as Juan Freytes began to deliver more inconsistent displays.

Loss of space changed the Argentine’s situation

The situation worsened at the start of the season. Without Thiago Silva, Juan Freytes took on greater responsibility in defense, but he was unable to repeat the solidity he had shown in some of the biggest matches of 2025.

Even amid the inconsistency, Luís Zubeldía kept the Argentine among the starters. The most significant change came after the Club World Cup, when the setup of Fluminense’s defense began to change.

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