Palmeiras return with absences and a new face; see | OneFootball

Palmeiras’ squad returned on Wednesday night (24) at the Football Academy, kicking off the mid-season training period before the national calendar resumes. Verdão will be back in action on July 23 at 9:30 p.m. against Coritiba at Couto Pereira Stadium in Curitiba, Paraná, in the 19th round of the Brazilian Championship.

Reigning São Paulo state champion and leader of the Brasileirão with 41 points, Alviverde heads into the break on a high and is also still alive in the continent’s main competitions, having qualified for the round of 16 of both the CONMEBOL Libertadores and the Copa do Brasil.

The squad returned at night to ensure the fasting required for the physical and clinical exams and assessments that will be carried out this Thursday (25), in partnership with Hospital Sírio-Libanês. Before the activities began, the players had dinner in the excellence center’s cafeteria while watching Brazil’s match against Scotland in the World Cup.

What’s new

The main news was the return of goalkeeper Kaique, who was reintegrated into the squad after a loan spell at Nacional in Portugal. A product of the Academy and a winner of the 2022 São Paulo Junior Football Cup, the 23-year-old keeper stood out in the Portuguese First Division, playing 28 matches and saving four penalties, the best mark in the competition. A regular presence in Brazil’s youth national teams, Kaique also played in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Another name present at the squad’s return was Argentine center-back Alexander Barboza, the club’s most recent signing. One of the key figures in Botafogo’s 2024 titles, the defender signed with Palmeiras until December 2028, with the possibility of extending for one more season, and is now beginning work alongside his new teammates.

Absences

On the other hand, coach Abel Ferreira still did not have the players who are representing their national teams at the World Cup. Still absent are Gustavo Gómez, Ramón Sosa, and Mauricio for Paraguay; Emiliano Martínez and Piquerez for Uruguay; Jhon Arias for Colombia; and Flaco López for Argentina. Right-back Agustín Giay, who was part of the Argentina squad in recent weeks, was given a few extra days of rest and will return to training next week.

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