The striker Dudu begins in the reserve bench the classic between Atlético-MG and Cruzeiro This Wednesday (08/27), for the trip of the quarterfinals of the Brazilian Cup, at the MRV Arena. The reason is a choice of coach Cucabecause the player is not suspended or limited in the physical part.
Since debut for Rooster in June, Dudu has played six official matches, but has not scored goals. The confrontation against Cruzeiro is the striker’s first reunion with the club that revealed him after the troubled departure in May.
From return to fox to termination
Cruise from Cruzeiro, Dudu was sold to Dynamo de Kiev, Ukraine, in 2011, and built a prominent career at Palmeiras. In 2024, he started conversations to return to the fox. Cruzeiro officially announced his signing in June, but the striker ended up giving up and remained at Palmeiras, without much space.
At the end of the same year, the negotiation was resumed, and Cruzeiro confirmed the return. Dudu was presented in Mineirão and began season 2025 as reinforcement of the fox.
His passage, however, was short lived. In 17 matches, he shook the nets only twice. With the arrival of coach Leonardo Jardim, he lost space, became a reserve and also publicly criticized the decision of the commission. The relationship soured once and for all in April, when he was removed from the cast.
No weather, club and player opted for contract termination. It was defined that Cruzeiro would pay about R $ 15 million in installments, amount related to the salaries provided for by the end of 2025.
Ad in Atlético
A few days after the dismissal, Atletico took the opportunity and officialized the hiring of the attacker. The Rooster Board made a point of poking their rival by recalling Dudu’s goal that helped lower Cruzeiro in 2019. In addition, it allowed the fans to choose the shirt number: 92, reference to the 9-2 historical rout over the fox.
New challenges
Despite the arrival with pomp, Dudu has not yet unleashed with the athletic shirt. During the time at Rooster so far, he had to fulfill six suspension games in the Brazilian Championship because of a speech -related sports justice punishment against Palmeiras president Leila Pereira. The STJD considered Dudu’s post and attacker phrases as offensive.
Over the weekend, he fulfilled the last suspension game in Brasileirão.
Atletico-MG x Cruise: Probable lineups
Atletico-MG: Everson; Natanael, Vitor Hugo (Lyanco), Junior Alonso and Guilherme Arana; Alan Franco, Alexsander, Gustavo Scarpa and Reinier (Ron); Hulk and Cuello. Technical: Gabriel War.
Cruise: Cassio; William, Fabrício Bruno, Villalba and Kaiki; Lucas Romero, Lucas Silva, Christian and Matheus Pereira; Wanderson and Kaio Jorge. Technical: Leonardo Jardim.
Atletico-MG x Cruise: Time and where to watch
- Copa do Brasil 2025 – Wednesdays – Game 1
- Data: Wednesday, 27 August 2025
- Time: 7:30 pm (from Brasilia)
- Local: MRV Arena, in Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais)
- Transmission: Prime Video (streaming)
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