Quick and ‘can play anywhere’: Buta to reshape São Paulo’s right | OneFootball

* By contributor Alex Pimenta

São Paulo has strengthened the squad so far with specific names requested by head coach Dorival Júnior. Officially announced at the start of the week, right-back Aurélio Buta, a 29-year-old Portuguese player born in Angola, was introduced as the club’s new signing in a press conference on Friday afternoon (24) at CT da Barra Funda.

Buta is best known for his spell at Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany and for also being able to play as a wing-back in systems with three center-backs. He is a player with pace, intensity, and good physical capacity to cover the entire right flank.

AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR will break down for you the strengths, weaknesses, and characteristics of the Tricolor’s new signing.

Strengths:

Speed * This is his main trait. He has excellent acceleration and defensive recovery.

Attacking support * He likes to overlap the winger, get to the byline, and provide width for the team.

Dribbling at speed * He can win many one-on-one duels using explosiveness and changes of direction.

Versatility * He can play in different roles on the right side, even as an attacking winger, making tactical changes during the match easier.

Intensity * He is heavily involved in the game, pressing high and maintaining a good tempo throughout the 90 minutes.

Weaknesses:

Aerial game * At 1.72 m, he struggles against tall attackers on set pieces and crosses.

Physical strength * He is not a physically imposing full-back. He can lose body-to-body duels against stronger players.

Decision-making in the final third * At times he gets forward well, but makes the wrong choice between crossing, passing, or carrying the ball.

Consistency * One of the main questions throughout his career has been his difficulty in maintaining a high level over several consecutive matches.

Defensive cover * When he pushes too far forward, he can leave space behind him, requiring cover from the defensive midfielder or center-back.

Tactical characteristics:

* Ideal for teams that play with a high line and attack-minded full-backs. * He performs better when given freedom to attack than in an extremely defensive system. * In a back five, he tends to maximize his best traits, since he has the protection of a third center-back.

Aurélio has versatility in his DNA, a profile approved by São Paulo’s coaching staff, and as a free agent he became an easier target to negotiate within São Paulo’s financial level.

Compared to the squad’s other full-backs, Buta offers more burst and speed than most of São Paulo’s options. On the other hand, he does not have as much physical presence, nor is he as defensively reliable in matches with a lot of aerial duels.

AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR rating:

If São Paulo is looking for a full-back to bring intensity to the attack and add more depth on the right side, Aurélio Buta was an interesting signing, especially if used in an attacking setup.

Fit rating for Dorival Júnior’s São Paulo: 8.5/10.

CAREER

Aurélio Gabriel Ulineia Buta was born in Miconje, Angola, and moved with his family to Portugal at just four years old. The player began his football journey at Águeda and spent time at Beira-Mar before joining Benfica, where he completed his development.

From the U16 to the U20 level, the player earned several call-ups to Portugal’s youth national teams before moving to Belgian football, where he played for Antwerp and won the Belgian Cup.

After standing out at the Belgian club, Buta moved to Eintracht Frankfurt and played for the German side for two seasons. He was then loaned to Reims in France. Before joining Tricolor, the right-back played for FC Copenhagen of Denmark.

AURÉLIO BUTA Full name: Aurélio Gabriel Ulineia Buta Date of birth: 02/10/1997 (29 years old) Place of birth: Miconje, Angola Position: right-back Height: 1.72 m Clubs: Águeda (2005-2009), Beira-Mar (2009-2011), Benfica (2011-2017), Antwerp (2017-2022), Eintracht Frankfurt (2022-2024), Reims (2024-2025), Eintracht Frankfurt (2025), FC Copenhagen (2026), and São Paulo (since 2026) Title: Belgian Cup (2019/20) Portugal national team: call-ups to the youth teams from U16 to U20 Title with Portugal: FA International Tournament (2013)

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