A stubborn manager and growing rift between the fans and board is never the root to success. Nathan Joyes takes a closer look at how the wrong investment can hinder progress and why Abel Ferreira may be left reeling that he didn’t follow Artur Jorge to the Middle East.
Palmeiras’ Brasileirão title is a distant memory.
Abel Ferreira’s team chased down a weary Botafogo back in 2023 to win back-to-back league trophies, but Verdão were unable to replicate their success 12 months later.
Finishing the season empty handed for the first time as Palmeiras’ head coach, aside from the Paulista, was perhaps a sign the Portuguese head coach should have accepted Qatari club Al-Sadd’s many phone calls.
Ferreira has had multiple opportunities to leave Brazil due to his success in South America - mainly for roles in the Middle East - but he’s stuck with Palmeiras despite constantly moaning about the incredibly demanding schedule.
That topic can be saved for another day.
It’s the here and now that needs addressing if Ferreira is to make it to the end of the season - or the Club World Cup, for that matter.
For a long period now, Palmeiras’ academy has continued to produce world-class talent that has adapted seamlessly into the first team. Endrick was the main reason behind their 2023 title before departing to Real Madrid, while Estêvão’s 22 goal contributions single handedly took last year’s title race to the final day.
Throw in Vitor Reis and his move to Manchester City, Palmeiras have pocketed over £150m from those three deals alone.
The club has re-invested - but nowhere near what the fans expect after selling their star assets, who have collectively featured less than 100 league appearances combined.
European cheque books - and now Saudis - are a cause for concern for the average Brazilian fan.
The league is growing, which is a huge positive, with the likes of Memphis Depay and of course, Neymar, playing their club football for Palmeiras’ arch-rivals Corinthians and Santos respectively.
And to their credit, Palmeiras have enticed several big names to Allianz Parque during the latest transfer window.
Big names arrive at Allianz Parque
Paulinho signed for €18m from Copa Libertadores finalists Atlético Mineiro, while Orlando City’s Facundo Torres moved south for €11.5m. More recently, former Nacional midfielder Emiliano Martinez has returned from Europe after several years in Denmark for FC Midtjylland.
While Palmeiras picked up their 2023 title, Paulinho collected one of his own. The Brazilian returned from a difficult spell in Germany at Bayer Leverkusen with a point to prove - and did so by scoring 20 league goals, winning the golden boot.
More impressively, none of the goals he scored were penalties.
Yet last season his form slumped. Mineiro’s inability to manage several tournaments was a factor behind his demise, but Paulinho also struggled to stay fit, finishing the season with just eight goals from 26 appearances as his side avoided relegation on the final day.
The 24-year-old, who currently remains on the treatment table, will have big shoes to fill when Estêvão makes his way to Stamford Bridge - and fans will expect to see his 2023 form due to his price tag.
Torres, who has arrived with a big reputation, is taking time to settle into his new environment. With one goal from his first five matches, it’s harsh to criticise at this early stage, especially with Palmeiras struggling without a trusted no.9.
Rony has long been their answer to scoring goals.
Yet the 29-year-old failed to fire in 2024, and although a cult hero with the fans, the forward is struggling to convince Ferreira he’s still the right man for the job.
Flaco Lopez was signed with high hopes after scoring 13 league goals in 25 appearances for Lanus back in 2021, and although the Argentine hit double figures last season, he has faced regular criticism for a lack of consistency.
Which brings us back to Palmeiras’ main problem - and why Ferreira is up against it.
Palmeiras’ current form is worrying
Palmeiras haven’t convinced during their current Paulista campaign. Despite only one loss from their seven matches, their most recent draw against Corinthians only highlighted fans' concerns further.
One shining light in this new-look side has been Mauricio. His goal - and fourth in five Paulista matches - should have kickstarted a dominant display from the hosts.
Playing as a false 9, the attacking midfielder/winger has shown qualities in front of goal, but how long that will last over the season remains a question yet to be answered.
Ferreira’s side controlled the first 40 minutes before Corinthians’ infamous pair - Memphis Depay and Yuri Alberto - once again combined to level the match.
And while celebrations are being clamped down in the English Premier League, the 2024 top goalscorer made the most of scoring against their bitter rivals, two footing their corner flag in front of the home fans.
Palmeiras thought they would have the last laugh when Alberto picked up a second yellow card for diving, but instead left the stadium frustrated after failing to score against 10 men - at home - in the final 30 minutes.
Estêvão won a penalty in the final minute - but also missed it - and for the second match in a row the teenager missed the chance to win a match in the dying minutes.
But the fans' frustration wasn’t aimed at their wonderkid - it was the man in the dugout.
Ferreira’s tactics saw his wingers heavily involved as they controlled the match, but insisted on clipping balls into the box - without a natural no.9 on the end of the crosses.
His final roll of the dice was to throw 18-year-old defender Figueiredo up front on his debut.
It didn’t pay off.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the Portuguese manager too stubborn to change his philosophy. The sole reason for their 2023 Brasileirão title was when it was almost out of reach, and a reluctant change from his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation to a 3-5-2 allowed Endrick to fly.
But that has long since been put to one side, and his 4-2-3-1, which has admittedly won Palmeiras plenty of titles, returned.
To invest or to replace
Ferreira has been feeling the heat. His response to a journalist after their 0-0 draw with Red Bull Bragantino when Jurgen Klopp was in attendance, perhaps suggests he’s struggling.
“Today, there was a man named Klopp (in the ground), who won fewer titles in eight years than I have. He had eight years at Liverpool and won fewer than we did in five. I’m a project manager, and that won’t change.”
Fans are furious with the lack of a natural no.9 at the club that looks to be the key missing piece.
Paulinho and Torres may well be solid signings - but one could also argue the Estêvão money has been re-invested in the wrong area.
And the longer Ferreira continues to be unwilling to change his approach, Palmeiras’ campaign could once again end in frustration.
A rift between the fans and the board is evident - which is never a good sign - and without a new academy sensation ready to save Ferreira for another year, his once promising era could end on a sour note.
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On our latest episode, Nathan Joyes is joined by Albert Hilton to discuss Neymar's move to Santos as well as analyse the Argentine transfer window. Available on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.
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