Without playing for almost a month Villalba seeks opportunity at Botafogo for the South American

Striker Lucas Villalba completed a streak of five consecutive matches this Tuesday without taking the field for Botafogo. Principal the club’s investment in the 2026 season, the Uruguayan lost space in coach Franclim Carvalho’s choices. The player’s last participation took place on April 15, during the confrontation against Racing.

The athlete’s situation reflects the moment of transition in the coaching staff and the strict control of the squad. Villalba arrived at Alvinegro with great expectations, but is facing difficulties in establishing himself among the holders. The cost of US$3 million in hiring him puts pressure on results that have not yet been converted into effective minutes on Brazilian pitches.

Limite of foreigners bars Uruguayans in national matches

The absence of Villalba in the last commitment against Remo, by Campeonato Brasileiro, had a specific regulatory motivation. Botafogo currently has 14 foreign players in its professional squad. Como to Confederação Brasileira of Futebol (CBF) only allows nine athletes born outside the country per summary, five need to be cut each round.

Esta logistical barrier has hampered the Uruguayan striker’s continuity in the national tournament. Nas In recent weeks, Franclim Carvalho chose to prioritize other international names to close the related list. Internal competition has increased and the Portuguese coach prefers to keep players with different characteristics on the bench.

The selection criteria include:

• Disponibilidade physical and training rhythm during the week.
• Necessidade specific tactic for the opponent of the round.
• Gestão of cards and wear and tear on other foreign holders.
• Histórico recent performances within CBF competitions.

Trajetória of Villalba had issues with registration and individual crash

The journey of this year’s biggest black and white reinforcement began with significant bureaucratic obstacles. Botafogo suffered a transfer ban at the beginning of the season, which prevented Villalba from immediately registering for the first rounds of Campeonato Carioca. Ele was only able to debut after the club’s financial disputes with international bodies were resolved.

Após released, the Uruguayan had moments of technical fluctuation under the command of different coaches. Ele even scored an important goal against Vasco, when the team was managed by the interim Rodrigo Bellão. However, an individual failure in a draw against Coritiba weighed on the internal assessment of their defensive and tactical security.

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Coach Franclim Carvalho took over the team with the philosophy of maintaining a shorter and more functional squad. The commander has shown a preference for players with greater experience and experience in Brazilian football for decisive games. Essa’s stance left Villalba in a secondary position, awaiting openings in lower pressure clashes or due to the need to rotate.

Sul-Americana appears as a chance to return to the starting lineup

Diferente from the scenario found in competitions organized by the CBF, Copa Sul-Americana offers a simpler path for the attacker to use. The continental tournament does not impose limits on the lineup of foreign players. Isso allows Franclim Carvalho to utilize the entire international contingent of Botafogo without the obligation to make cuts to the roster.

The next match against Racing, scheduled for this Wednesday at 9:30 pm, represents a real opportunity for Villalba to break the minutes fast. Ele was listed on the bench in recent wins against Chapecoense and Independiente Petrolero, but was not used during the 90 minutes. The coaching staff monitors his progress in training to decide whether he will enter during the game.

• Último match: Botafogo 3 x 2 Racing (April 15)
• Valor of purchase: US$3 million (R$16.3 million)
• Gols scored: 1 (against Vasco)
• Current Situação: 5 games without acting

The board’s expectation is that the athlete will regain the confidence to justify the high amount invested. Botafogo plans to increase the value of its international assets, including targeting future transfer windows after Copa of Mundo. At the moment, the priority is to integrate Villalba into the Franclim system so that it can be a useful piece in the marathon of games that the club will face between Brasileirão and Sul-Americana.