The Santa Cruz Chronicle
Squad12 Apr 2027
Words exchanged at Santa Cruz
Leandro Carvalho and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
The dugout12 Apr 2027
Leandro Carvalho gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Market12 Apr 2027
One of our own: Júnior Nardo joins the Santa Cruz first team
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. Júnior Nardo is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
Market12 Apr 2027
Bruno Assis steps up from the Santa Cruz academy
There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Bruno Assis 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.
Loan watch12 Apr 2027
Gabriel Souza wants to come home
“I did not go to Azuriz to sit and watch. I want to come back to Santa Cruz and fight for my place.” 0 appearances in 17 matches say the rest.
The dugout12 Apr 2027
Lucão knocks on the manager's door
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Santa Cruz, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Market12 Apr 2027
Robinho linked with a move away
The name of Robinho keeps appearing in other people's back pages. Santa Cruz say nothing, which says plenty.
The dugout12 Apr 2027
Patrick Allan gets picked when it counts
Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Patrick Allan is on it.
Squad12 Apr 2027
“I want to play”: Matheus Régis speaks
“I respect the manager and I am not going to sit here and pretend I am happy.” It is the most common sentence in football and it has never once been the end of a story.
In brief
- Market Santa Cruz put Matheus Melo up for sale
- Squad The dugout calls for Jonatas Paulista
- Squad The penny has dropped for Lucas Matheus