CEO of Cruzeiro football, Alexandre Mattos revealed this Monday (23), in an interview with Itatiaiahaving agreed to sign midfielder Eduardo, who was at Botafogo.
The 35-year-old shipowner joins Rodriguinho, ex-América; Christian, ex-Athletico-PR; Bolasie, ex-Criciúma; and Dudu, ex-Palmeiras, as reinforcements for 2025.
“I think we can already say. We already have the word. You have to take a medical exam, sign a contract, which is Eduardo, who comes from Botafogo. An interesting player, who plays in several positions. And as the president said, Bolasie. Making it clear that you have to sign, provide proof, if you don’t change anything… (sign)”, he revealed.
In 2024, Eduardo suffered from injuries and played little compared to previous years. The last of them meant that the midfielder underwent surgery on his right rectus femoris and was sidelined for more than three months. The problem cost the midfielder his starting position, which saw striker Jefferson Savarino take over as the team’s playmaker.
Eduardo was injured in Botafogo’s triumph over Vitória, on July 11, in the 16th round of the Brazilian Championship. Initially, the prediction was that the midfielder might not even return to play in 2024. However, he turned things around and returned to the pitch on October 18, in a draw with Criciúma, in the 30th round.
Even with injuries, Eduardo played 35 games this season, scoring eight goals and providing four assists. Last year, when he was going through a great phase and formed a team with Tiquinho Soares, the midfielder entered the field on 49 occasions, found the net 12 times and made seven passes to goal.
Cruise
In , Eduardo arrives to compete for position in a midfield full of players. In the squad, Fernando Diniz will have Matheus Pereira, Matheus Henrique, Lucas Romero, Walace, Lucas Silva, Christian, Fabrizio Peralta, Japa, Vitinho, Jhosefer and Rodriguinho available for the central part of the field.
Career
Eduardo made his professional debut in 2009, when he belonged to Desportivo Brasil and was loaned to Ituano. Later, he also played for Fluminense and Grêmio Barueri, before leaving the country. In the northern hemisphere, the midfielder played for Estoril-POR, Porto-POR, Nice-FRA, Al-Hilal-SAU, Al-Ahli-SAU, Al-Ahli Jeddah-SAU.
Bebeto
A curious fact is that Eduardo has former striker Bebeto as his father-in-law. The midfielder is married to digital influencer Stephanie Oliveira, with whom he has two children: Mikai, the youngest, two years old, and Heaven, the firstborn, three years old. Unlike the boy, who was born in Brazil, the daughter was born in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
