Fortaleza back in Série B with new squad, aiming for promotion | OneFootball

Fortaleza enters a new chapter starting this Saturday, when they visit Botafogo-SP at 7:15 PM (Brasília time). After seven consecutive participations in Serie A, from 2019 to 2025, the Leão do Pici returns to compete in Serie B, a competition they won in 2018, marking the beginning of one of the most successful phases in their history.

During this period in the elite, the Tricolor secured a spot in the Copa Libertadores three times (2022, 2023, and 2025), reached the final of the Copa Sudamericana in 2023 — being defeated by LDU on penalties — and finished the Brasileirão twice among the top four, in 2021 and 2024.

Focused on returning to Serie A in 2026, the club initiated a comprehensive financial restructuring and conducted a deep overhaul of the squad. So far, on the field, the results are positive: they won the state championship against their rival Ceará and advanced to the fifth phase of the Copa do Brasil, surpassing the goal set by the management, which was to reach at least the fourth phase.

The restructuring is led by CEO Pedro Martins, hired at the beginning of the year. He highlighted the confidence in the club's planning and projected good expectations for Serie B, following the Cearense title.

“We have the unity of everyone: the fans, the staff, and the management. I am sure that, with a lot of work, we will achieve all the year's goals. We all believe that we will return Fortaleza to Serie A,” he stated.

With the relegation, the Tricolor's budget suffered a 51% cut in operational revenues compared to 2025. In this scenario, the pursuit of economic sustainability became a priority, with cost reductions, defined sports goals, and a reduction in the payroll by more than R$ 7 million from 2025 to 2026, along with the restructuring of the squad and the adoption of a more professional management model.

Thus, practically the entire group of players was renewed for 2026. The club signed 13 players, ten on loan until the end of the season. The other three were acquired permanently, all for low amounts and within the R$ 10 million budget allocated for reinforcements throughout the year.

Among the most significant departures are Deyverson, Emmannuel Martínez, and Juan Martín Lucero, who had their contracts terminated. Other important names, such as Matheus Pereira, Imanol Machuca, and Eros Mancuso, were loaned to other teams.

Aiming to reach the goal of raising R$ 74 million from player sales in 2026, Fortaleza has already negotiated three players permanently, with payments in installments: Moisés (sold to Santos for about 2 million euros, approximately R$ 12.3 million), Herrera (transferred to Bragantino for about R$ 24 million, an amount used to reduce debts, with no direct profit to the club), and Breno Lopes (negotiated with Coritiba, securing Fortaleza 50% of the amount, approximately R$ 7.5 million).

Besides Serie B and the Copa do Brasil, the Tricolor will also compete in the Copa do Nordeste this season. The debut takes place on April 16, away from home, against América-RN, at 7 PM.

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