Cuca set to step up Santos tactical work before Botafogo on 16 July | OneFootball

Cuca will step up Santos’ preparations this week, moving from fitness work to tactical sessions at CT Rei Pelé. He is set to have two weeks to fix first half issues and trial variations before facing Botafogo on 16 July at the Nilton Santos in the 19th round of the Brasileiro.

According to Globo.com, Santos plan to play friendlies before returning to competition, with dates and opponents expected to be set this week. The coach is expected to work with almost his full squad.

Midfielders Gabriel Menino and João Schmidt, plus attacking midfielder Thaciano, have recovered from injury and increased their transition to the pitch last week.

Willian Arão and Gabriel Bontempo, who spent the week in the CT gym on strength work, also moved to on-field training on Saturday.

Players who had been reinforcing the under-20s have rejoined first-team sessions, including centre-backs João Ananias and João Alencar and midfielders Samuel Pierri and Pepê Fermino.

New signings are not expected in the coming weeks. The window opens on 20 July, and Cuca had hoped to have reinforcements training before formal registration.

With finances tight, the club will prioritise contractual obligations such as wages and image rights. There is also a risk of another transfer ban, as Fifa has ordered Santos to pay 2.032 million euros, about R$ 12 million, to Monaco over the signing of Jean Lucas. The club’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport was rejected at the end of May.

Source: Globo.com