The Santa Cruz Chronicle
The dugout10 Jan 2028
Matheus Régis keeps the receipts
“I remember the meeting. I remember exactly what was promised in it.” Santa Cruz may remember it differently, which is precisely the problem.
Squad10 Jan 2028
Andrey stays put
“The easiest signature of my career.” Andrey and Santa Cruz agree another 5 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Squad10 Jan 2028
Tempers go at Santa Cruz
Diego Raposo was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Transfer targets10 Jan 2028
Door shut on Evertton Araújo
Santa Cruz asked and Flamengo said no without discussing a figure. It is the least ambiguous answer in football and the one clubs most often come back to test.
The dugout10 Jan 2028
The manager makes an example of Andrey
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Market10 Jan 2028
Caio Figueiredo steps up from the Santa Cruz academy
There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Caio Figueiredo has been at this club since he was a boy and is now, formally, one of the first-team squad — which for a local readership beats any signing of any size.
Market10 Jan 2028
Santa Cruz promote Paulo Farias from within
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Paulo Farias has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.
Market10 Jan 2028
One of our own: Daniel Araujo joins the Santa Cruz first team
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. Daniel Araujo is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
Market10 Jan 2028
Renato Souza steps up from the Santa Cruz academy
There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Renato Souza has been at this club since he was a boy and is now, formally, one of the first-team squad — which for a local readership beats any signing of any size.
In brief
- Transfer targets The window shuts on the Ronaldy deal
- Squad Manuel Falón falls out with a teammate over standards
- Squad Too much change too quickly at Santa Cruz