How do you rate Facundo’s season at Palmeiras? Vote! | OneFootball

Signed with the status of a major star and a key piece for the attack of Palmeiras, Facundo Torres ends his first season in Brazil in a scenario of uncertainty. The Uruguayan forward, who cost 12 million dollars (about R$ 71.9 million) from Orlando City, arrived at the Football Academy surrounded by expectations proportional to the value of his transfer, but the final balance of the year leans more toward disappointment than affirmation.

Facundo’s early days at Verdão showed signs that the investment would be quickly justified. Between February and May, the player secured a starting spot and went on a run of 20 matches in the starting eleven. During this period, he delivered a positive response by scoring four goals and providing three assists, engaging in a direct battle for position with the starlet Estêvão and even being used as an alternative on the left side of the attack.

However, what seemed to be a meteoric adaptation turned into a sharp decline in performance throughout the national and continental competitions. The Uruguayan’s technical regression drew attention: he lost his starting spot and the ability to be the difference-maker the team needed in moments of greatest pressure. For a signing worth nearly R$ 72 million, delivering only seven direct goal contributions in a full season was considered a timid response by both fans and critics.

The sense of frustration is heightened by the fact that Facundo arrived as a “ready” player but ended the year as a secondary option in Abel Ferreira’s squad. Although he was frequently used coming off the bench, the forward was unable to replicate the consistency that made him a standout in MLS, leaving the impression that the weight of the investment and the intensity of Brazilian football are still obstacles to be overcome.

With the calendar coming to a close this December, Facundo Torres enters 2026 in a “risk zone.” The tendency is for Abel Ferreira to offer new opportunities at the start of the Campeonato Paulista to try to recover the player’s form. If he doesn’t deliver, the Uruguayan risks permanently losing his place in the squad and sealing his stint at Palmeiras as one of the most expensive and least productive investments in recent years.

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