Abel on Palmeiras’ philosophy, market challenges and tough rivals in Brazil | OneFootball

In search of reinforcements to strengthen coach Abel Ferreira’s squad, Palmeiras has been keeping a close eye on the transfer market since the start of the window. Many names have been speculated, but the club has only secured one signing so far: midfielder Marlon Freitas.

The arrival of Marlon Freitas, captain of Botafogo, was seen by Palmeiras as a market opportunity. Coach Abel Ferreira acknowledged a personal preference for players already adapted to Brazilian football, but admitted the competitiveness and strong rivalry in negotiations.

“From my own mouth, I like Brazilian players, those who are already adapted to the Brazilian Championship. I like to look for players from here, but today it’s very difficult. Cruzeiro is a team that is strengthening a lot, with financial power, Santos went after Gabigol. But you have to understand that Brazilian football, with the teams, is becoming more and more closed, with more resources. The SAFs brought in investors, and others have their own money. The competition is fierce, because the teams have economic power and others can simply say they won’t sell. This is a demonstration of what the Brazilian Championship is. In terms of competitiveness, it’s among the best in the world. This player [Marlon Freitas] was what we call a market opportunity,” pointed out Abel.

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Continuing his line of reasoning, the Palmeiras coach mentioned the club’s bet on academy players, who are already used to the daily routine and understand the greatness of the club. He did not mention a specific recruitment profile, but rather a philosophy to be followed.

“You know that the coach doesn’t choose A, B, or C, he gives the profile he wants for each position, not just physical, technical, and tactical, but the type of player who is capable of playing for Palmeiras and who, if he plays badly, will have 40,000 fans on his back. People don’t have much patience. Some arrive here and have to be put through the wringer to understand the club’s history and the demands when they win or lose. You can’t teach that to players who come from outside and don’t know Palmeiras’ reality. Maybe it’s easier to bet on a youth player who knows the reality, who trains with us, who plays at Allianz. Palmeiras doesn’t have just one profile, but it does have a philosophy, which is quite different. Just look at the average age of teams like Cruzeiro and Flamengo. We compete for the same objective, but with completely different philosophies,” he explained.

Is a midfielder a priority?

Palmeiras lost an important piece in midfield at the end of last year — midfielder Aníbal Moreno was transferred to River Plate. The club also started the season without Lucas Evangelista, who is recovering from surgery on his right thigh.

In the 1-0 victory over Santos last Wednesday, Andreas Pereira became a concern for Palmeiras. The number 8 fell awkwardly after a foul and injured his left shoulder in the fall. He had to be substituted in the opening minutes of the match.

Because of this, Abel was questioned about the possible need for a new midfielder, but made it clear that he wants to give space to the academy, especially to young Luís Pacheco. He came on in the second half of the derby against Santos and delivered.

“If I sign another midfielder, this Luis [Pacheco], whom you saw today, will have his spot blocked. He’s a player with a lot of potential who can deliver for us now and in the future. These are the things we have to think about at the club. And if we sign a midfielder? We can sign, but things don’t work like that at Palmeiras. It’s not about emotion, it’s about reason. It’s about balance, responsibility, and we’re not going to block places for other players we believe can deliver, whether financially or sportingly,” assessed the coach.

“At times, Palmeiras will have to sell. Palmeiras, every year, has to develop, bet on the academy, sell to invest, and stay competitive. It’s a cycle, a wheel that can’t stop. My job is to deliver results and be part of this mechanism,” he added.

Looking for a new goalkeeper?

Finally, Abel also stated that Palmeiras is not expected to go to the market in search of a new goalkeeper after Weverton’s departure. The tendency is that Carlos Miguel, Lomba, and Aranha, a young academy player, will be the three players in the position for the main squad.

“Regarding the goalkeepers, we have other priorities. We had two goalkeepers, Lomba and Weverton, for a long time, but the truth is that we already thought about and prepared for this before a possible departure. He is 38 years old, with tremendous potential, will still play for another 4 or 5 years, and we have Carlos Miguel, who was a bet our president made, 28 years old. It was just a matter of time. Our president and Barros can speak better about this subject. It’s a position where we were well served. Weverton left, and Aranha will be our third option,” concluded Abel.

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