Cruzeiro’s planning for 2026 underwent important changes after Tite’s departure as coach in March. One of the athletes brought in at the coach’s request, striker Chico da Costa, did not adapt to the team and is about to leave the team in the coming months, which consolidates Kaio Jorge as the main force in Raposa’s attack.
The celestial leadership and the attorneys for the player who wears the number 91 shirt are in talks to find a new team for the center forward. The expectation is that he will move to clubs in the Middle East, ruling out, for now, the possibility of continuing to play in Brazil.
Although there is no urgency to seal the negotiation, the consensus between the club and the athlete is that Chico da Costa is not part of coach Artur Jorge’s plans for the remainder of the championship.
Passage analysis: why the signing did not meet the expectations of the fans and the coaching staff
Francisco da Costa Aragão was integrated into the Cruzeiro squad at the beginning of 2026, following a request from then coach Tite. The coach was looking for a striker with a different profile from those already present Kaio Jorge and Néiser Villarreal, which highlights how a commander’s tactical vision can direct risky signings, which are not always sustainable with a change of management or strategies.
During that period, Tite emphasized the attacker’s qualities, such as his ability to play with his back to the defenders, hold the ball in the attacking field, perform quick triangulations, create gaps for other players to arrive and be a reference in the area due to his good heading.
However, even with high expectations, the athlete was unable to replicate the performance he had at Mirassol and ended up losing his position, both under the command of Tite and later under Artur Jorge.
During the campaign, he was on the field in 14 of Cruzeiro’s 37 matches, but started as a starter in just five of them, ending the phase without finding the net. His contractual relationship with the club extends until the end of 2027.
Career highlight: the striker’s successful years in Bolivian football
Originally from Taquari, a city in Rio Grande do Sul, Chico da Costa began his journey in the youth divisions of Grêmio, before moving to Athletico Paranaense, the club where he became a professional player.
After playing for minor teams in Brazil, he developed a considerable part of his sporting career outside the country. He wore the shirt of teams such as Inter Playa del Carmen, in Mexico, Bolívar, in Bolivia, Atlético Nacional, in Colombia, and Cerro Porteño, in Paraguay.
The peak of his career was at Bolívar, between 2022 and 2023, a performance that aroused the interest of Brazilian clubs and motivated Cruzeiro to sign him. However, his experience at Toca da Raposa did not live up to expectations, and his departure is seen as the most likely outcome in the current transfer window.