Palmeiras is looking for two times in the Copinha, but Abel Ferreira wants ready-made players

Palmeiras decides the under-20 São Paulo Cup this Wednesday (25) with the board under pressure because of the professional squad. The team faces América-MG, at 3:30 pm, in Canindé, in search of its second title in the competition. Last year, he defeated Santos in the decision.

Last Monday (23), the walls of Allianz Parque were graffitied in protests by supporters for reinforcements. “We want players” and “weak management” were some of the complaints. Palmeiras has not signed any athletes so far in 2023.

Although the team’s highlights in the Copinha, such as forwards Kevin and Ruan Ribeiro, can be used in the main squad, coach Abel Ferreira does not count on them to solve problems. The team drew 0-0 with São Paulo for the state last Sunday. He warned president Leila Pereira that he wants to acquire ready-made players.

For the Portuguese, the group has shortcomings that need to be resolved. Palmeiras will play Paulista, Brasileiro, Copa do Brasil and Libertadores this season. There will also be the Super Cup against Flamengo next Saturday (28), in Brasília.

Abel’s express condition for hiring “ready players” caused ironic reactions in the board. Last year, the club was informed that it could hire Hulk, from Atlético-MG, because there was a device that would allow the striker to leave Minas Gerais. Abel vetoed for the second time (he had already done so in 2020) the arrival of the player who played in the 2014 World Cup.

Hulk receives at Atlético about R$ 1.7 million per month.

The reinforcements that arrived at Palmeiras in 2022 were endorsed by Abel Ferreira. Among them were strikers Rafael Navarro, José Manuel López and Miguel Merentiel and midfielders Atuesta and Bruno Tabata. The team was Brazilian champion.

But what caused Leila Pereira the most recent irritation backstage was Abel Ferreira’s public statement that Palmeiras makes complaints to arbitration by email. The scolding was about a goal annulled in the classic against São Paulo.

The president complained internally that any remark of the type made by the coach should happen in person, not through the press.

Palmeiras sends e-mails to the arbitration commissions of the FPF (São Paulo Football Federation) and CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) as a way of making the complaint official. Leila reminded aides that she traveled to Rio de Janeiro a few times, during the Brazilian last year, to talk to Wilson Seneme, head of arbitration at the Confederation. And Abel knows it.

The situation may become more tense depending on the result of the Super Cup on Saturday. Palmeiras and Flamengo have been the main rivals in the country in recent years. The Paulistas won the 2021 Libertadores final, but last year, the title stayed with the Cariocas.

In early 2023, the squad lost midfielder Gustavo Scarpa, who had signed a pre-contract with Nottingham Forest. The English club still paid 20 million euros (R$ 112 million) to take midfielder Danilo. Real Madrid bought striker Endrick in a transaction that could yield up to 60 million euros (R$ 336.4 million in current values, depending on productivity clauses).

Sales are used as a reminder, by the fans, that Palmeiras has money to hire. Something that Leila Pereira contests.

“It’s not because Palmeiras sold very well that they have cash and we’re going to spend it. The fans see the sales, but like all sales, payment is not upfront. It’s in installments”, said the president last week, at an event club marketing. She also pointed out that, in the case of Endrick, the club has “a percentage of the player, not the totality”. In this case, 70%.