Reliable Brazilian journalist Eduardo Gabardi has dropped a bombshell regarding the upcoming summer transfer market, revealing the strong desire of Portuguese Luis Castro, the current manager of Brazilian club Gremio, to sign Brazilian international goalkeeper Pinto, the goalkeeper of Saudi club Al-Nasr.
According to what Gabardi stated on his official YouTube channel, Pinto's name tops the list of interests of the Gremio board, on the direct recommendation of Luis Castro, who knows the goalkeeper's capabilities well, indicating early moves to strengthen the Brazilian team's ranks with big names capable of making a difference in local and continental competitions.
The relationship between Castro and Pinto and the coach's career
This desire stems from prior experience, as Luis Castro coached Al-Nassr during the 2023/24 season and part of the 2024/25 season. During that time, Castro witnessed Pinto's arrival at Al-Nassr and closely followed his performances. It's worth noting that Castro has recently had several coaching stints, leaving Al-Nassr for a short period with Al-Wasl in the UAE, before officially announcing his appointment as head coach of Brazilian club Grêmio in mid-December, where he embarks on a new project aiming to return the team to championship glory.
Pinto's numbers with Al-Nassr and his previous career
Goalkeeper Pinto, 26, joined Al-Nassr from Brazilian club Atlético Paranaense during the summer transfer window of the 2024/25 season, in a deal that raised high hopes for resolving the Riyadh-based club's goalkeeping crisis. He quickly proved his worth, making 10 official appearances for Al-Nassr this season, conceding 7 goals and keeping 5 clean sheets, totaling 900 minutes of playing time, reflecting significant stability in the goalkeeping position.
The importance of the deal and its expected impact
This news is particularly significant given Pinto's market value and technical prowess, as he is a goalkeeper for the Brazilian national team. The return of a goalkeeper of his caliber to the Brazilian league via Grêmio would be a major coup in the transfer market and would bolster the team's chances in the Brazilian league and the Copa Libertadores. However, Castro's ambitions may face significant obstacles, most notably Al-Nassr's determination to retain their first-choice goalkeeper, a cornerstone of the team's project to compete for Saudi and Asian titles, especially since his contract is still valid and he has been delivering outstanding performances in Riyadh.
