The change in the technical command of Atlético-MG, with the departure of Jorge Sampaoli and the appointment of the Argentine Eduardo Domínguez, promises to shuffle the pieces of the alvinegro squad.
Players who were stuck on the bench, or not even listed, gain a new perspective of playing time in 2026.
Already in the match against Itabirito, under the interim command of Lucas Gonçalves, some changes and player revivals were evident, indicating what could be the tone of the new work.
See who might benefit from the change, according to information from ge.
- Gustavo Scarpa: One of the main names in the squad, Scarpa had lost his starting position and was being moved to the right wing by Sampaoli, often playing in the alternative team. Right after the coach's dismissal, he returned to play centrally and shone with a goal and an assist, indicating that he should regain his prominence.
- Mateo Cassierra and Alan Minda: The forwards were signed in the first window of the year, but were not Sampaoli's recommendations, who justified the lack of opportunities for the duo due to physical issues. In the first game without the former coach, both gained minutes, and Cassierra already left his mark with a penalty goal.
- Júnior Santos: The club's most expensive signing in 2025 was completely out of the old committee's plans and was almost loaned to Bahia. With the change, the forward was listed again and now seeks to make his official debut in the 2026 season.
- Patrick: Fully recovered from injuries, the midfielder was training normally but was ignored by Sampaoli, who publicly stated that the player did not fit the "first midfielder" profile the team needed. Now, he seeks a fresh start.
- Natanael: The full-back, who played 60 games in 2025, first lost space to Saravia and, this year, to the reinforcement Preciado. In the game following the fall of the former coach, Natanael immediately returned to the starting lineup and hopes to consolidate his place.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.