PORTO ALEGRE — Grêmio’s board has decided that head coach Luís Castro will remain in charge despite fan boos, external pressure following a defeat to Corinthians, and the recent departure of vice president of football Antônio Dutra Jr. The decision comes as the club sits in 16th place in the Brazilian Championship with 21 points as of the World Cup break, just one spot above the relegation zone.
The board’s stance reflects its belief that the newly restructured squad needs time to gel. Grêmio carried out a major overhaul in 2026, with 21 players departing and six new signings arriving, including defensive midfielder Juan Nardoni for US$8 million and forward Tetê for €6 million—investments described as the club’s largest in its history. However, the team did not have a proper preseason because the Brazilian Championship began in late January alongside the state-level Gauchão tournament.
Under Castro’s leadership, several youth academy players have broken into the senior side. Viery, Pedro Gabriel, and Gabriel Mec have established themselves in the first team, while Luis Eduardo, Zortéa, and Vitor Ramon have received their first opportunities with the senior squad.
Grêmio’s squad will return to training on June 17 after a 35-day break for the World Cup. The club also faces financial constraints and needs to sell players to stabilize its situation. Antônio Dutra Jr., who stepped down as vice president of football on the Saturday before June 2, 2026, had previously acknowledged the team’s challenges. “We know we are facing opponents that are better structured, with more well-built squads, and that have not gone through as deep a restructuring as Grêmio has. These difficulties do not disappear like magic. But we believe there is still a lot to get out of what Grêmio can do with this group, during this break, with the arrival of players.”
No independent assessment was available for this report.