Cuca turns to academy as Santos face FIFA transfer ban and financial squeeze | OneFootball

With a FIFA transfer ban in place, Santos are set to lean on their academy, with Cuca turning to homegrown options to plug gaps.

According to Globo.com, Saturday's friendly against União São João offered a glimpse, with 14 academy graduates among 26 selected and four debuts, goalkeeper João Pedro, midfielders Nicola Profeta and Pepê Fermino, and attacker Vinícius Fabri.

Cuca said he thinks this is the path, noting Santos often find remedies in youth, though the academy cannot provide everything. He said the group still needs one or two balancing pieces and he is trying to maximise training for a strong second half.

The board’s stance points the same way, with salary payments prioritised and work ongoing to clear overdue image rights. The club must also reorganise finances to settle a debt with Monaco, which would allow the ban to be lifted.

Signings are only possible if new funds arrive, potentially via player sales, so opportunities for youngsters are expected to continue. Cuca will assess further prospects in training and they may alternate between first team work and under-20 commitments. Some who featured in the friendly are expected to bolster the under-20s against Botafogo on Wednesday in the Brazilian under-20 quarter-finals.

He flagged the strain of three competitions, travel abroad and the risks of injuries, dips in form and suspensions. The aim is to climb away from the wrong end of the Brasileiro and push as far as possible, perhaps even into a Copa do Brasil or Sudamericana final.

Source: Globo.com