Marcos Leonardo returns to training at Santos amid stalemate

After not participating in the preparation for the duel with Fortaleza, played on Sunday (13), at Arena Castelão, where SantOs was thrashed 4-0, Leonardo Marcos returned to training with the cast of Santos this Tuesday (15).

Over the past week, the 20-year-old striker has not participated in any training, amid a disagreement with the board. With a proposal from Roma in hand, he wants to leave already in the current transfer window in Europe, but the club from the coast of São Paulo insists on holding him until the end of the year.

In a move to alleviate the uncomfortable situation created in recent days, Santos published a video on social networks, showing Marcos Leonardo participating in activities at CT Rei Pelé. “The Boy from Vila ML in training”, says the publication on the official page of the club na X, new name of the social network formerly known as Twitter. With that, the player must be available for the duel with Grêmio, scheduled for 4 pm on Sunday.

The return to training comes after a public ultimatum, albeit in a moderate tone, by Alexandre Gallo, who arrived at the club last week to take over as technical coordinator in place of the sacked Paulo Roberto Falcão. After coach Diego Aguirre’s press conference at Castelão, on Sunday, Gallo made himself available to journalists to talk about internal issues and said that the board was already considering going to court if the athlete did not reappear.

“We talked with the representative, with the athlete. On our part, we have a definition. I really hope to count on him from Monday, in training, in work, in an effective way. If that doesn’t happen, Santos will take your precautions, we have a very competent legal department.

The defeat to Fortaleza made Santos finish the first round of the Brasileirão inside the relegation zone, in 17th place, with 18 points. With only one victory in the last 18 games of the season, in the sum of all competitions, the alvinegro team returns to the field next Sunday, when it receives Grêmio in Vila Belmiro, this time with the gates open, after the reduction of the punishment of games no fans applied due to confusion with Corinthians.

Although the transfer window for the arrival of players is already closed in Brazil, Santos continues in the market in search of athletes without a club, as allowed by the regulations. This Wednesday, midfielder Tomás Rincón, formerly of Sampdoria, should be announced as a new reinforcement.