(photo: Ramon Lisboa/EM/DA Press)
End of a soap opera with a positive outcome for the fans Cruise. The parties put an end to the obstacles that prolonged negotiations, and the star club announced, this Wednesday (21/1), the renewal of Matheus Pereira’s contract. The 29-year-old midfielder signed a new contract with Raposa until the end of 2028 – the old one would end in June this year.
Being 𝐌𝐚𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨 is more than conducting an orchestra. It’s writing, under the starry sky, heroic and immortal pages. ⭐️
On the lawns of Minas Gerais, the blue conductor will continue to perform his recitals.
Cruzeiro renewed with @MatheusPereira until the end of 2028! We continue together,… pic.twitter.com/qssTAcMaMh— Cruzeiro 🦊 (@Cruzeiro) January 21, 2026
On some occasions, Pedro Lourenço, majority partner of Sociedade Anônima de Futebol (SAF) of Cruzeiro, and Pedro Junio, vice-president, detailed that the negotiation was well underway, but that the club and player had not yet reached an agreement regarding the length of the contract. Conversations had started at the end of last year.
Since the beginning of January, Matheus Pereira could sign a pre-contract with another club. The possibility, however, was not feared by the celestial leadership due to the midfielder’s identification with the Fox. In addition to having extended the contract, the player will enjoy increased salary.
Matheus Pereira at Cruzeiro
Matheus Pereira has been playing for Cruzeiro since July 2023. At the time, he belonged to Al-Hilal, from Saudi Arabia, and signed on loan. Subsequently, the celestial board responded to the fans’ request, handed over 10 to the athlete and bought him definitively in June 2024 – 50% of the economic rights for around 5 million euros (at the time, something around 30 million).
The midfielder became Cruzeiro’s main player that season. But, like the entire squad, production fell in the final stretch – marked by the defeat in the Copa Sudamericana final, to Racing. At the beginning of 2025, the relationship with the fans was shaken when Matheus Pereira left his future open and almost transferred to Zenit, in Russia.
Negotiation became a soap opera. The number 10 signaled a positive signal and even underwent tests, but gave up at the last minute and chose to extend Cruzeiro’s story. Once again prestigious, last season, Matheus Pereira led the team in the fight for the title of the Brazilian Championship (third place) and the Copa do Brasil (fall in the semi-final).
Since signing with Cruzeiro, the midfielder has had the status of one of the club’s main athletes. The number 10 has played 126 official matches with the Celestial shirt, as well as 19 goals and 26 assists.
