Tetê ends near 100-day Grêmio drought and seeks fresh start | OneFootball

Tetê ended a near 100-day goal drought as Grêmio beat Santos in the Brazilian league on Saturday, an emotional moment he hopes can reset his season. According to Globo.com, he believes it could mark a new phase at the club.

He was embraced by team-mates during the celebration. The 26-year-old had replaced Enamorado 10 minutes into the second half, shortly after Santos’ second goal, and later found the net.

Signed in January to significant fan expectation, he began as a starter but lost his place, particularly to Enamorado, and drew criticism at the Arena and online. He said every player wants to perform for the club he loves, that the squad’s support mattered and that the goal brought relief.

After a defeat to Palmeiras in early April, Luís Castro said the forward was dealing with a family problem, without details. On Saturday, Tetê pointed to the challenge of adapting to Brazilian football, noting he had only played for Grêmio at youth level before starting his senior career in Europe, and cited team-mate Amuzu as another example. Castro added that staff have been working with him to ensure he comes back strong, with several players being rebuilt to compete for places.

This was his third goal in 24 appearances this season. He had scored on four February against Botafogo in the league, then on 15 February against Juventude in the Gauchão semi-final, before his wait ended against Santos.

Grêmio signed him from Panathinaikos for an estimated 6.2 million euros, R$ 39.6 million, on a deal to the end of 2029. The last two matches before the World Cup pause, against City Torque and Corinthians, both at the Arena, offer further chances to rebuild confidence and reconnect with the crowd.

Source: Globo.com