Ex-Grêmio forward meets Benzema in rivals’ dressing room and targets breakthrough at Al-Kholood | OneFootball

Guga, 19, used a 20-day conditioning block in Porto Alegre before flying on Saturday to Spain for Al-Kholood’s pre-season, buoyed by a campaign that brought his first two senior goals.

According to Globo.com, the former Grêmio academy striker left without a first-team debut, joined Al-Qadisiyah at the start of 2025, then moved to Al-Kholood the following season.

He made 25 appearances, six starts, scoring two and assisting three. He faced Benzema with Al-Hilal, and Kanté and Fabinho with Al-Ittihad, whom Al-Kholood beat in the King Cup semi-final. He did not feature against Al-Nassr, so missed Cristiano Ronaldo.

The final ended 2-1 to Al-Hilal. After full-time, Benzema invited Guga and his nine-year-old brother into the Al-Hilal dressing room, where they took photos and left with the striker’s shirt.

Guga calls his Saudi spell part dream, part development, citing daily habits, from extra gym work to finishing drills, that are speeding his growth. He says the main hurdle is language under coach Des Buckingham, and during Ramadan sessions ran at 9 or 10pm. He also cites figures such as Nacho Fernández and Aubameyang.

He believes next season can be the turning point. He has three years left on his deal and keeps a long-held dream, to play for Grêmio at the Arena.

Source: Globo.com