OneFootball
·28 Juni 2026
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·28 Juni 2026
Cruzeiro has decided the future of defensive midfielder Walace, who had been sidelined from the main squad since April.
The player has been loaned to Vitória until the end of the year. However, his departure only partially eases the wage bill.
According to ge, Cruzeiro will continue to pay 50% of the player’s wages.
Walace’s case follows a recent and costly pattern behind the scenes at the club: players signed with high expectations who fail to deliver the expected performances on the pitch and end up leaving the team, while still generating multimillion-dollar expenses.
The cases were detailed by ge. Check them out below.
Walace: Due to internal issues, the defensive midfielder was unable to regain his place in the team. He will play for Vitória until the end of the season, with Cruzeiro paying half of his salary.
Gabigol: A signing sought by SAF owner Pedro Lourenço, the forward arrived in January 2025 with earnings exceeding R$ 2.5 million per month (including signing bonuses and performance bonuses). A starter under Fernando Diniz, he lost his place under Leonardo Jardim. The breaking point was a missed penalty in the Copa do Brasil semifinal, which triggered strong protests from the fans. He is on loan at Santos, with Cruzeiro still paying 50% of his costs. He left Raposa with 49 appearances, 13 goals, and 4 assists.
Dudu: Signed in 2025 after a turbulent departure from Palmeiras, the forward made only 17 appearances and scored two goals. He also lost his starting spot after Leonardo Jardim’s arrival. After publicly criticizing the coach for being left on the bench, his contract was terminated early. The agreement required Cruzeiro to pay the wages he would have received through the end of 2025 (around R$ 15 million), during which time the player was already playing for rivals Atlético-MG.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
📸 Alexandre Schneider - 2025 Getty Images







































