By Matheus Trunk
O São Paulo suffered from injuries this season. Around 70% of the tricolor cast had some experience with the medical department throughout the year. There were more than 70 cases of injured athletes. To try to solve this problem, which affected the team’s performance, the club’s management announced the arrival of a veritable “package” of professionals for the medical and Reffisthe group’s recovery center. There are twelve new health professionals for all areas. This team’s mission is to make the squad “healthy”, as coach Crespo said.
In the medical sector, orthopedists Hilton Vargas Lutfi and Bruno Schiefer are the new names at Tricolor. Both have specializations in sports medicine. In the area of physiology, the new addition is professional Rafael Grazioli, who previously worked in the same role at Guarani, in Campinas. He was also part of the under-15 and under-17 categories of the Brazilian team.
During recovery, physiotherapists Leandro Carvalho, Gilvan Arruda and João Ribeiro take over the work. It is one of the most important areas of football because of the full calendar. Arruda already has experience in professional football, as she is responsible for the Morumbi women’s team. For the performance area, sports scientist Danilo Prado was hired. There are two more physical trainers to work at the Barra Funda CT: Ricardo Ferreira and Pedro Saller, who have experience in São Paulo’s youth divisions. Saller was responsible for the team in São Paulo Junior Football Cup of 2025.
Changes were expected
Still among the new reinforcements of the DM tricolorthere is the arrival of podiatrist Gabriela Barbosa, massage sector coordinator Thyago Souza and masseur Francisco Gregório. Together, they will be responsible for their respective areas of activity. The reformulation was general. In recent weeks, the board of São Paulo had already carried out a real “clean-up” in the club’s health sector, dismissing professionals from different areas, such as physiologists, masseuses, physical trainers, security guards and even wardrobe workers. The changes were therefore expected.
Frustrating season
The health problems of the athletes were serious. Idol Oscar had a heart problem, midfielder Lucas suffered discomfort in his knee, left-back Enzo Dias suffered from an inguinal hernia, defender Arboleda had a muscle injury, among others. All these casualties made the team Hernan Crespo perform poorly this season, finishing the Brasileirão in a modest eighth position. There were 51 points in 38 games, 14 wins, nine draws and 15 defeats. The team qualified for the group stage of the Copa Sudamericana.
