Arboleda returns to São Paulo after a month of disappearance and discusses contract termination

Ecuadorian defender Robert Arboleda reported to the Barra Funda CT this Monday afternoon (4), ending a period of more than 30 days of absence without explanation. The defender had been missing since April 3, the date on which he should have concentrated for the match against Cruzeiro with Campeonato Brasileiro, but traveled to Equador without prior authorization.

Imediatamente upon his arrival, the athlete was taken to a meeting with the executive director Rui Costa and the sports manager Rafinha. The meeting allowed the player to explain his abandonment of professional activities. The tricolor leadership maintains a rigid stance and considers the veteran’s conduct as a serious disrespect to the squad and the institution.

Reunião at CT defines the defender’s next steps

The atmosphere during the re-presentation was described as professional, but cold and with no room for concessions on the part of São Paulo. Rui Costa had already publicly classified Arboleda’s conduct as “unjustifiable”, highlighting that the club gave the athlete every opportunity to communicate during the month of April. Como the defender did not respond to the extrajudicial notifications sent previously, the board initiated the process for a possible unilateral termination of the contract.

Atualmente, the most likely scenario for the outcome of this crisis is the termination of the player’s relationship with the São Paulo club. Existem two work fronts being analyzed by the legal department and the football board:

• Rescisão friendly contract that runs until the end of 2027.
• Negociação of federative rights with clubs abroad in the July transfer window.
• Manutenção of the athlete’s removal from main activities until the future is sealed.
• Cobrança of heavy disciplinary fines provided for in the internal regulations for consecutive absences.

Histórico’s indiscipline weighed against the Ecuadorian in 2026

Embora Arboleda is the player with the longest tenure in the current squad, having joined Morumbis in 2017, the year 2026 was marked by recurring episodes of delays. The board’s patience was exhausted precisely by the gravity of the last act, which involved the abandonment of an official call for an official match. Diferente of delays in training, absence on game day is considered one of the most severe infractions in the Brazilian football code of conduct.

The defender accumulated four serious fouls this semester alone. During the Carnaval period, he claimed personal problems for not returning from a trip, but was caught watching a friendly match between Barcelona, Guayaquil and Inter Miami. Posteriormente, in March, the defender missed three days of training and ended up being blocked by coach Roger Machado in the next clash against Internacional, losing his place to Rafael Tolói.

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Lucas Moura operates on hamstring while cast gets time off

Enquanto the crisis with Arboleda dominates behind the scenes, São Paulo’s medical department continues to be busy with other important names from the main cast. Attacking midfielder Lucas Moura underwent successful surgery to correct a hamstring injury. The procedure was uneventful and the athlete should be discharged from the hospital in the next few hours to begin the intensive physiotherapy process at Reffis Plus.

The group of players received a day off this Monday after the 2-2 draw against Bahia, which took place last Sunday. The general re-presentation is scheduled for Tuesday morning, when the total focus will be on preparing the duel valid for Copa Sul-Americana. The absence of Arboleda does not impact the immediate technical planning, as the player had not been accounted for by the technical committee since the beginning of last month.

Ficha defender’s technique and numbers at the club

Arboleda’s trajectory in São Paulo is marked by longevity and important titles, such as Copa of Brasil and Campeonato Paulista. Entretanto, the wear and tear caused by off-field problems seems to have reached a point of no return this season. The club understands that keeping an athlete with this history of fouls could compromise the discipline of the group led by Roger Machado.

• Nome full: Robert Abel Arboleda Escobar.
• Data arrival at São Paulo: Junho 2017.
• Recent Renovação: Contrato signed in 2024 with validity until December 2027.
• Current Situação: Afastado for resolving contractual issues.
• Próximo club commitment: Estreia in the group stage of Sul-Americana.