Cruzeiro hired 22 attackers under the direction of Pedro Martins; remember the 62 reinforcements

Pedro Martins left the position of football director at Cruzeiro to settle with Vasco. The now former club director, in two years and three months as a celestial executive, signed 62 players, including striker Marcelo Moreno.

The number 9 did not enter the field, but his name was published in the Daily Newsletter (BID) of the Brazilian Football Confederation with a three-month contract. Minimum length of contract that a club can sign with athletes in accordance with the Pelé Law.

If you take into account three players who were hired for the base and used in the main team (strikers Fernando, João Pedro, and midfielder Ian Luccas), the number of signings would rise to 65.

Pedro Martins has been at Cruzeiro since 2022, when Ronaldo took control of Sociedade Anônima de Futebol (SAF). He leaves Toca da Raposa to take up a vacant seat at Vasco.

The Rio club had been without a professional in charge since it had fired Alexandre Mattos, on March 21st.

More “reinforced” sector

The attack was the position that had the most signings at Cruzeiro during the period in which Pedro Martins commanded the club’s football department. There were 22 attackers signed with few highlights.

In 2022, Edu was Cruzeiro’s big offensive name. The striker scored 22 goals in 48 games, ending the year as the team’s top scorer.

In 2023, Bruno Rodrigues was Cruzeiro’s main offensive player, with 13 goals and seven assists. The player was signed in the second half of 2022 and had made a good return in Series B.

Some big bets didn’t pay off. Cases of Wesley, who cost more than R$18 million to the club’s coffers, and Gilberto. The duo are no longer at the club and spent last year being challenged by fans due to their poor season numbers.

Cruise wear

Pedro Martins was the constant target of fan protests. Since 2023, Cruzeiro residents, questioning the formation of the squad and sporting results at Cruzeiro, have asked for the football director to leave.

On the last international trip, when Cruzeiro went to Chile to face Unión La Calera, in the Copa Sudamericana, Pedro Martins was not with the delegation. CEO Gabriel Lima and communications director Victor Rios represented the board.

One of Martins’ last acts in charge of Cruzeiro football was the rehiring of coach Fernando Seabra. The former coach of the under-20 team, after leaving the club for Red Bull Bragantino, returned to Toca II to take on the role of coach of the main team.

In an interview in March, Pedro Martins explained the dismissal of coach Nicolás Larcamón and the return of Fernando Seabra to Cruzeiro’s technical command.

“We are happy with Seabra’s return. This return represents a reconnection with your identity, your method, your way of working. We believe that Seabra, in addition to the professional figure he built, represents everything that Cruzeiro has built in the last two and a half years. The fact of valuing the base and making the game collective were the main premises for making this decision”, said Pedro Martins, in his last press conference, on April 9th of this year.

Career of Pedro Martins

Pedro Martins’ biography on LinkedIn, a corporate social network, points out that the professional has a degree in Administration with an MBA from the University of Liverpool-ING. Martins worked as football director at Ferroviária between 2017 and 2018, and in 2020.

The executive was also manager of the information department at Athletico-PR, between 2013 and 2017. He also served as vice-president of the São Paulo Football Federation before signing a deal with Cruzeiro.

The signings made by Pedro Martins at Cruzeiro

2022 (25 athletes)

Goalkeepers: Gabriel Brazao, Gabriel Mesquita, Rafael Cabral
Defenders: Wagner Leonardo, Ze Ivaldo, Luis Felipe, Lucas Oliveira
Sides: Gabriel Dias, Matheus Bidu, Marquinhos Cipriano, Wesley Gasolina
Midfielders: Pablo Siles, Willian Oliveira, Neto Moura
Midfielders: Leonardo Pais, Canesin, Chay
Forward: Rodolfo, Jajá, Rafa Silva, Juan Christian, Waguininho, Luvannor, Lincoln, Bruno Rodrigues

2023 (28 athletes)

Goalkeepers: Anderson
Defenders: Reynaldo, Luciano Castán, Neris, João Marcelo
Sides: Igor Formiga, William, Marlon and Helibelton Palacios
Midfielders: Wallisson, Richard, Jussa, Ramiro, Fernando Henrique, Lucas Silva
Midfielders: Nikão, Matheus Vital, Ian Luccas*, Matheus Pereira, João Pedro*
Forwards: Matheus Davó, Henrique Dourado, Rafael Bilu, Wesley, Gilberto, Rafael Elias, Arthur Gomes, Paulo Vitor, Fernando*