Villasanti bids to regain lead role at Grêmio after World Cup setback | OneFootball

Villasanti, the squad’s longest-serving player after Kannemann, is pushing to regain prominence after a serious knee injury and World Cup disappointment.

According to Globo.com, the Paraguayan midfielder has returned to work at CT Luiz Carvalho and wants to convince Luís Castro he merits a place after nine months out.

Arthur’s departure has opened a vacancy in the second midfield role, but the coaching staff currently view Nardoni as ahead for that spot. The Argentine, signed at the start of this year, is match fit.

Even so, the board value him and see a “reforço” for the second half. He became available on 23 May, was unused on the bench in the win over Santos, omitted for Montevideo City Torque on the 26th, then watched a defeat to Corinthians at the Arena four days later.

Despite being a regular through qualifying, ending Paraguay’s 16-year absence, he did not get club minutes before the break, so Gustavo Alfaro left him out of the final squad.

Villasanti could now gain minutes in inter-season friendlies. Grêmio face Cascavel this Saturday in Paraná at 16:00, then Chapecoense on 5 in Mato Grosso, with Cruzeiro planned on 12 in Brasília.

Grêmio extended his contract in May 2025 to the end of 2029. He left the Atlético-MG match injured on 17 August 2025 after rupturing his left ACL at Arena MRV. Since arriving in August 2021 he has 193 games, 14 goals, 14 assists and three state titles.

Source: Globo.com