After failed talks with Santos, Sampaoli set to take charge at Atlético-MG | OneFootball

Atlético-MG announced this Monday the return of Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli to lead the team until the end of 2027. The coach returns for his second stint at the club, after talks with Santos did not progress due to the financial limitations of the Peixe.

Sampaoli, who had been without a club since January 2025 when he was dismissed from Rennes, takes over Galo after Cuca's departure. In his first stint with Atlético, between 2020 and 2021, the Argentine led the team in 45 matches, with 26 wins, eight draws, ten losses, and one title: the Campeonato Mineiro.

Sampaoli's return to Galo comes after the coach almost finalized his return to Santos. The São Paulo club withdrew from negotiations upon realizing they could not meet the coach's demands, which included reinforcements for the squad.

After ending negotiations with the Argentine, Peixe announced Juan Pablo Vojvoda as the new coach. Sampaoli's career is marked by stints at prominent clubs and national teams. Before Rennes, he also led teams such as Flamengo, Sevilla, Olympique de Marseille, the Argentine National Team, and the Chilean National Team.

Atlético-MG is going through a delicate moment in the Brazilian Championship, occupying 14th place with 24 points, just two ahead of Vitória, which opens the relegation zone. Despite the difficulties in the national tournament, the team still keeps its chances alive in the South American Cup and the Copa do Brasil.

In the continental competition, Galo advanced to the quarter-finals after eliminating Godoy Cruz. In the Copa do Brasil, they face a disadvantage in the quarter-finals against Cruzeiro, after losing the first game 2-0. The return to the field is scheduled for the 11th, when Atlético visits Cruzeiro at 7:30 PM (Brasília time) at Mineirão for the second leg.

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