Renato Portaluppi keeps pressing management to bring in Michael, from Al-Hilal

Even with the 11 signings made in this transfer window, coach Renato Portaluppi continues to press Grêmio’s management for signings. The big problem seen by the commander is the lack of a right-winger with speed and dribbling, an indispensable piece for his tactical scheme. The desired name from the beginning is Michael, from Al-Hilal. In an interview in the mixed zone of the last game, against Avenida, the coach was asked about the player he wanted for the squad, and he quickly answered. “Michael, you know.”

Gustavinho and Everton Galdino were players hired for the position, but it seems they still haven’t won the coach’s trust. Currently, the one being tested is Bitello, a defensive midfielder, who is playing on the right wing and trying to provide quality passes on the wings. However, the youngster does not have the speed or quality in the one-on-one, and ends up centralizing the game and reducing the space for striker Luiz Suárez.

Michael had already been Portaluppi’s favorite for some time, since his time at Flamengo, when he managed to revive the athlete’s football and take him out of reserve. Grêmio is trying to negotiate the player, but the big problem is still the Transfer Ban that the Saudi team is going through, in addition to the high value of an attacker who assisted in a Club World Cup final.

Another position that needs attention is the right-back. The medical department informed, this Tuesday, that Fábio suffered a grade one injury to the adductor muscle of the right thigh, which should keep him out of action for 15 days. With that, the midfielder Thaciano will play the role this Saturday, against São Luiz, in Ijuí. João Pedro, another one who does the job, has yet to debut with the Tricolor shirt.

For the duel in Ijuí, the tendency is for Portaluppi to send an alternative team, preserving half of the starters and giving the group an opportunity to rotate.