Atlético first team on holiday, youngsters prepare for Mineiro | OneFootball

The main Atlético squad is officially on vacation. The players were released after the victory against Vasco last Sunday (08) and will return to activities on January 2nd, when preparations for the Brazilian Championship will begin, scheduled to start on January 28th.

The break ends a long season for the professional group (75 matches, counting the FC Series), who will have just over three weeks of rest before training resumes at Cidade do Galo.

“Sparring” team keeps training and will be the base for the Campeonato Mineiro

While the main squad is already packing their bags, the same does not apply to the so-called “sparring” team, made up of young players and others who complete the professional team’s training sessions. This group will continue working as usual until December 22nd, with no vacation at this first moment.

The players will have only a short break between Christmas and New Year’s, also returning on January 2nd for the final stretch of preparations for the Campeonato Mineiro.

Atlético will debut in the state championship on January 11th, against Betim, at Arena MRV, and the core of the team taking the field should be formed precisely by the players from the “sparring” group.

Sampaoli will lead the team in the Mineiro

Unlike what happened at the start of this season, when Atlético played the first rounds of the Mineiro with an under-20 team led by the youth coach, the scenario in 2026 will be different.

Coach Jorge Sampaoli, who remains in charge of the club for 2026, will be responsible for managing the team in the state championship — even with an alternative squad, while the main group focuses on preseason preparations for the Brasileirão.

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