Will Matías Viña make his Cruzeiro debut against Vitória? Find out | OneFootball

Matías Viña already has a possible date to begin his journey with Cruzeiro. The player is expected to be included in the squad for the match against Vitória on Sunday the 20th at Barradão Stadium, for the 28th round of the Brazilian Championship Série A.

RTI Esporte Agency has learned that the decision on whether to use the Uruguayan defender will depend on the coaching staff’s assessment and, above all, on Portuguese manager Artur Jorge, especially after a long period without a consistent run of games.

Matías Viña arrived in Belo Horizonte last week, after Cruzeiro completed his loan signing from Flamengo. His contract with the club from Minas Gerais runs until the end of 2026, with an option to buy his economic rights at the end of the deal.

Full-back returns to training with the squad

At 28, the Uruguayan player returns to Brazilian football after playing for Argentina’s River Plate on loan. Before leaving the Argentine club, the full-back played 14 official matches in 2026.

His last appearance for River Plate came in May, against Rosario Central in the Argentine Championship. After that, he went through a spell without playing and returned to the field for the Uruguay national team during the World Cup in June.

The time away from matches is one of the factors that could weigh on Cruzeiro’s coach’s decision. Matías Viña will have the next few days to regain his rhythm in training and show that he is physically ready to take part in the match in Salvador.

The possibility of being used against Vitória puts the Uruguayan at the center of a decision for the coaching staff. Cruzeiro will have a week of preparation until the match, enough time to assess the full-back before deciding the lineup.

Loan deal paved the way for the move

The transfer to Cruzeiro was completed after River Plate expressed interest in ending the player’s loan early, which had originally been set to run until the end of 2026. The new agreement brought Matías Viña to Belo Horizonte.

As a result, it was established that Cruzeiro will fully cover his wages during the term of the contract. Raposa also secured the option to sign the player permanently for US$ 4.5 million (R$ 22.9 million, at the current exchange rate).

For now, however, the priority is different: to regain his rhythm and earn his place in the squad. If he is chosen to face Vitória, Matías Viña will have his first opportunity to show that he has what it takes to stay at Cruzeiro permanently.

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