{"id":1084246,"date":"2023-12-12T12:00:41","date_gmt":"2023-12-12T12:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1084246"},"modified":"2023-12-12T12:03:14","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T12:03:14","slug":"santos-could-line-up-best-players","status":"publish","type":"cult-corner","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/cult-corner\/santos-could-line-up-best-players\/","title":{"rendered":"How Santos could have lined up if they hadn’t sold their best players"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the first in the club’s 111-year history, Santos have suffered relegation, meaning they’ll be playing in Serie B next year.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s a fall from grace for the Sao Paulo club, who have had some of the world’s best players in their team over the years. Santos have had Pele in his pomp and nurtured Neymar, but that history wasn’t able to help or inspire the current crop of players as they laboured to finish Brazil’s Serie A, one point from safety.<\/p>\n

Relegation was sealed on the final day of the season with a 2-1 defeat to Fortaleza, which allowed both Bahia and Vasco do Gama to leapfrog Santos. Although a draw wouldn’t have been enough given results elsewhere, the misery was compiled with Fortaleza grabbing their winning in the sixth minute of second-half injury time.<\/p>\n

So now Santos prepare for life as a second-tier club, and they have already made a change with Marcelo Teixeira elected as new president, returning to the role after 14 years.<\/p>\n

But let’s take a look to happier times and the players that have featured for Santos, who are still playing. Maybe Santos could get the gang back together to fight for promotion in 2024.<\/p>\n\n

GK:\u00a0Rafael Cabral<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Age: <\/b>33<\/li>\n
  • Current club: <\/b>Cruzeiro<\/li>\n
  • Games played for Santos: <\/b>189<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Rafael joined the Santos academy when he was 13 and after seven years of development, he signed a permanent contract in 2010. He spent three years at the club and won five trophies before signing for Napoli in 2013.<\/p>\n

    The Brazilian, who has made three appearances for the national team, is currently playing his football in the Brazil with Cruzeiro after joining from Reading in 2022.<\/p>\n

    RB:\u00a0Danilo<\/strong><\/h2>\n
      \n
    • Age: <\/b>32<\/li>\n
    • Current club: <\/b>Juventus<\/li>\n
    • Games played for Santos: <\/b>78<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Danilo started at America-MG before moving to Santos in 2010. He only played one season with the side before a string of mouth-watering full-back performances, which saw him score 10 goals, caught the eye of Portuguese giants Porto.<\/p>\n

      He moved to the Dragoes<\/em> in 2012 and spent three successful years there, scoring 12 goals and grabbing 15 assists in 136 games. In the summer of 2015, he earned a huge move to Real Madrid but has since relocated to Man City and again to Juventus. Danilo lifted the Serie A title with the Old Lady in 2019\/20 and has proven important across the backline for them, now captaining the club.<\/p>\n

      CB: Marcelo<\/strong><\/h2>\n
        \n
      • Age: <\/b>36<\/li>\n
      • Current club: <\/b>Western Sydney Wanderers<\/li>\n
      • Games played for Santos: <\/b>65<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Not that one, centre-back Marcelo hailed from the Santos academy in 2007 and after two productive seasons at the Vila Belmiro, including winning a Campeonato Paulista, the defender relocated to Europe and joined Polish outfit Wisla Krakow.<\/p>\n

        From the hustle-and-bustle of the Ekstraklasa, the Brazilian has since made his way across the continent, pitching up at PSV Eindhoven, Hannover 96 and Besiktas, before finally settling at Lyon, where he captained his side to a Champions League semi-final appearance, knocking out the likes of Juventus and Manchester City along the way. Marcelo spent five years in total at Lyon, before making the short trip across France to Bordeaux, though he has since joined Australia’s Western Sydney Wanderers.<\/p>\n

        \n

        Santos are one of the most decorated teams in Brazilian football:<\/p>\n

        \u25c9 22x Campeonato Paulista
        \u25c9 8x Brasileir\u00e3o S\u00e9rie A
        \u25c9 3x Copa Libertadores<\/p>\n

        In 2023, they were relegated from the top-flight for the first time in the club's 111-year history. ? pic.twitter.com\/taG3VWwn9s<\/a><\/p>\n

        — Squawka (@Squawka) December 7, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n