Headache! Grêmio set strategy to cover for Marlon's absence | OneFootball

The Brasileirão round after the FIFA international break brought an extra challenge for Grêmio coach Luís Castro.

With Marlon’s serious injury — a fracture in his right ankle that will keep him out for five months — and the inability to use Caio Paulista against Palmeiras (for contractual reasons), since the player belongs to Verdão, Grêmio had to move quickly behind the scenes.

Despite the long-term absence, the club’s board decided not to look for reinforcements on the outside market.

According to ge, the bet will be on homegrown solutions.

Market and Protection

Grêmio has also shut the door on departures. At Luís Castro’s request, the club blocked Vitória’s interest in center-back Wagner Leonardo, whom the coach considers a key piece of the squad.

Up front, there is full confidence in Carlos Vinicius: the striker is the only player to have featured in all 19 of Grêmio’s matches in 2026 and remains the team’s top scorer, despite his frustration at not being called up by Ancelotti to the national team during this FIFA international break.

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

📸 Pedro H. Tesch - 2025 Getty Images