Paulinho back in Palmeiras squad after 302 days for Santos clash | OneFootball

Palmeiras face Santos at Allianz Parque on Saturday at 18:30 Brasília time, with Paulinho set to return after 302 days out.

The club said in a statement on Friday that the number 10 is available after shin problems that began at Atlético-MG, developed into a stress fracture and led to surgery before his move.

He recovered to debut for Palmeiras on 12 April against Corinthians in Barueri, but discomfort persisted as he travelled to the FIFA Club World Cup. Even so, he scored twice, including against Botafogo, then, after the 4 July defeat by Chelsea, he did not play again.

A second operation followed, then around six months without impact work, only strengthening until the area healed. He progressively increased load, rejoined group sessions and trained fully, even travelling to Salvador and Colombia, though he was not selected.

Paulinho described the call-up as emotional, said some anxiety is normal and that he feels at peace after the effort to return. He hopes to enjoy the moment with his family at the stadium and, if possible, get a few minutes and help the team to a win.

He is not yet at 100 percent, with biomechanical and physical thresholds still to clear. Inclusion this weekend does not guarantee regular selection, future minutes will depend on workload progression and his responses as Palmeiras build him towards the 2026 season.

Source: Nosso Palestra