Still hoarse for the celebrations of the 2025 Gaucho Championship title after a nine -year hiatus, the president of Internacional, Alessandro Barcellos, says the achievement had a special flavor for being the first since taking office in 2021, and on rival Grêmio.
The triumph of the Colorada team prevented the tricolors from reaching the eighth consecutive state trophy, keeping the International as the only octal champion gaucho, between 1969 and 1976.
“Arriving in an extremely disputed gaucho championship final, being unbeaten champion and avoiding a historical feat of our opponent, which only Inter has. This gave an extra pepper in this sauce,” Barcellos tells Sheet.
Inter and Grêmio are, by far, the largest winners of the state, with, respectively, 46 and 43 cups. Brazil from Pelotas, Guarany and Cruzeiro appear next in the ranking, with two titles each.
Without fear of having this rule threatened, the leader says he welcomes the possibility of Uruguayan teams to dispute the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
The idea came from a provocation from the president of Peñarol, Ignacio Ruglio.
Although it recognizes that, legally, the endeavor can find obstacles, Barcellos argues that new configurations for traditional state can contribute to improving the show, attracting more public, and moving the region’s economy and tourism.
“I have a training in innovation, research and development. And I learned something important: companies worldwide invest millions in new ideas. Many of them end up giving nothing, but few of them have seen extremely attractive businesses, new products. We have to think a little out of the box,” says Barcellos.
“Peñarol’s provocation may be very difficult to make it possible. But it is an interesting provocation, as there are two of the great Uruguay clubs, about 600, 700 kilometers from Rio Grande do Sul. Thinking of something joint is not absurd. It’s something we have to evaluate,” adds the leader.
Barcellos says that in conversation with the president of Peñarol during the Copa Libertadores group stage draw, the Uruguayan top hat said he had already sought the Nacional and the Uruguayan Football Association), and would have received the endorsement to follow the venture.
“I said I saw it as an interesting initiative, but there were some challenges to be overcome and awaiting formalization, something more concrete,” he said.
According to Cartola, an interlocutor of the government of Rio Grande do Sul also made a positive signaling for the economic and tourist potential that the proposal could bring to the state.
The FGF (Gaucho Football Federation) said that so far it has not been sought to deal with the matter. “Although this is very interesting and shows the strength and importance of gaucho football on the international scene, it is a very complex and difficult question,” says the federation.
According to the FGF, the first step would be the Uruguayan clubs to parade from AUF. Then they would have to regularize in Brazil, with the process of affiliation with the FGF and the CBF. Only after these procedures did Uruguayan teams start their journey in Gauchão, but with the Serie B dispute until they were winning vacancies to Serie A2 and then to Series A1.
“Gaucho football will always be open to the Uruguayan clubs to dispute integration tournaments or preparation with the clubs of Rio Grande do Sul,” the federation points out.
For now, the confrontation between Brazilian and Uruguayan clubs will take place for the Copa Libertadores and the South American Cup.
Inter is in Libertadores group F, alongside the national own, besides Bahia and Atlético Nacional-COL. Peñarol is in Group H, with Olimpia-PAR, Vélez-ARG and San Antonio-Bol.
Racism
Inter’s president also charged the harsher punishments of Conmebol (South American Football Confederation) to curb cases of racism in matches in South America.
“We are having successive events of this nature and I think this is increasingly dangerous in football,” says the Cartola. “Punishments have to be more rigid, we cannot consider it or accept it in a natural way.”
The suggestion of the president of Palmeiras, Leila Pereira, to change Conmebol for Concacaf, however, is seen with caveats.
“Migrating from affiliation and not facing the problem head on is worse. We have to face the problem and think of a way to come together. Not only Brazilian clubs would like all clubs in South America to have a joint stance so that we could ban racism in football,” says the leader.
Inter president declares support for Ednaldo’s reelection at CBF
Alessandro Barcellos is also part of the group that supports the reelection of the current president of CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation), Ednaldo Rodrigues, with the commitment made by the current representative of supporting the creation of a National Club League.
In office since 2021, first in an interim way after the departure of predecessor Rogério Caboclo, and elected in 2022, Ednaldo was reelected on Monday (24) unanimously, with votes from the 27 state federations and the 40 clubs of series A and B.
Former striker Ronaldo even announced his candidacy, but gave up after not finding support.
“There is still a lot to improve, but looking at the whole process that precedes the election, we realize some inability to articulates that could bring a North, a totally different direction. President Ednaldo has been maintaining an interlocution with the clubs, with the federations. He is a very affordable president,” says the colorado leader.
