Santos Installs Alexandre Mattos as Football Chief, Vows Targeted Moves

Santos FC on Wednesday formally introduced Alexandre Mattos as its new executive of football, handing the 48-year-old the task of reshaping the squad while keeping spending under tight control. Speaking at Vila Belmiro, Mattos said the team already has “a good roster” and pledged to make only “targeted adjustments” in the upcoming transfer window, stressing that the club’s strained finances leave no room for “madness.” The former Cruzeiro, Palmeiras and Athletico-PR director takes over a side sitting 15th in Brazil’s top flight after 12 rounds. Recent business has seen right-back Léo Godoy and forwards Soteldo and Gabriel Veron depart, while midfielder Willian Arão and right-back Igor Vinicius have arrived. Mattos said further reinforcements are complicated because most domestic options have already played more than seven league matches, limiting eligibility, and overseas deals must fit the budget. Mattos also confirmed that striker Neymar, who re-signed on Tuesday through December 2025, is determined “to be decisive again” after an injury-marred return to his boyhood club. The executive said regular playing time should allow the 32-year-old to regain form and contribute both to Santos and, potentially, the Brazilian national team.