Palmeiras returns to Brazil with a weakened squad and will face a tiring and decisive sequence

NEW YORK - Palmeiras returned to Brazil weaker than when they went to the United States for the Club World Cup . The second half of the season is challenging and the squad is smaller and has fewer resources now that Estêvão has left to start his journey at Chelsea and Paulinho confirmed that he will only return to the pitch next year.

As has been known since June of last year, Estêvão, who was transferred to Chelsea, said goodbye to Palmeiras as soon as the team said goodbye to the World Cup. The team loses creativity without the 18-year-old striker and will have to go to the market to replace his departure, as Abel Ferreira has publicly stated. The only target at the moment is the Paraguayan Ramón Sosa, 25, a player from Nottingham Forest.

Paulinho is another certain loss to the squad, albeit temporarily. A new surgery to get rid of the intense pain in his right leg will be necessary and will rule him out for the rest of the season, according to the number 10's own prediction.

"Time to take care of myself. After a long time playing with sacrifice and living with a lot of pain, the moment I knew would come has arrived: I will need to undergo surgery that will keep me off the pitch for the rest of the season," Paulinho shared on his social media.

The initial recovery estimate for the new surgery is three to four months, which, in theory, would allow the number 10 to return for the last games of the year. However, as his case is unusual and serious, the plan is to be cautious and not rush a new return.

He suffered a fractured bone in his right shin last year while playing for Atlético Mineiro, and continued playing for months before undergoing surgery in December. He spent four months recovering before making his debut for Palmeiras in April this year.

The squad could lose other important players. The most sought-after player at the moment is Colombian midfielder Richard Ríos , a player that Palmeiras is working to keep for as long as possible. His contract runs until the end of 2028, and the club holds 70% of his economic rights. There are no offers for now, assured the player, who is unlikely to leave Palmeiras for less than 30 million euros - R$191 million.

"What I know is what you know. Just speculation. I think that nothing has arrived at the club yet and, if it hasn't, nothing has been notified to me," said the Colombian after the elimination in the World Cup.

Brasileirão, knockout stages of the Copa do Brasil and Libertadores ahead

The World Cup has demanded a lot from the players, and the rest of the year will be more challenging, making the schedule even more exhausting. The team has already played 40 games this year and will need a full squad to be able to fight for the Brasileirão, Copa do Brasil and Libertadores titles.

The team has a commitment in the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil and the Libertadores this month. The opponent in the knockout stage of the competition that pays the most to its participants is arch-rival Corinthians , in derbies that will be played between the end of July and the beginning of August.

In August, Palmeiras will also decide its fate in the Libertadores. In the round of 16, its rival will be Universitario, from Peru.

Before that, they will play their first match after the World Cup. It will be a classic at Vila Belmiro against Santos, in the 13th round of the Brasileirão, which they were leading and dropped to fourth before traveling to the United States.

The game does not yet have a set date, but it is known that it will be held next weekend, June 12th and 13th. The squad was given a few days off and will resume training this week.