In search of a new coach, Atlético-MG makes initial contact with Luís Castro

With the dismissal of Gabriel Milito after the 2-0 defeat to Vasco on Wednesday night (04), Atlético-MG puts its full attention on the coaching market aiming for the 2025 season. The Minas Gerais club made contact with the Portuguese Luís Castro, who left Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo's club in Saudi Arabia, in September this year and has been available for offers since then. The coach's initial consultation was after the Copa Libertadores final, last Saturday (30), where Atlético-MG was beaten by Botafogo 3-1, despite having an extra player during the entire match.

The loss of the Libertadores was just one of the reasons that led Galo's board to fire Milito, who had also lost the Copa do Brasil final to Flamengo, but continued in the role for the Libertadores final. The defeat to Vasco in São Januário was the trigger for the relationship, which culminated in the dismissal of the Argentine coach.

_{Atlético-MG made Milito's resignation official after the defeat to Vasco (Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/@atletico)}

According to 'GE', the coach continues to listen to other proposals and will only make his decision on December 15th, having finished the regular season in Brazil. Luís Castro is the target of Santos and Cruzeiro.

Other coaches on the club's radar

The leadership that commands Atlético-MG continues to monitor other names to take over the team next year, and should opt for a Portuguese name for the position of team coach, seeking to repeat the recent successes of Flamengo, with Jorge Jesus, Palmeiras, with Abel Ferreira, and Botafogo, with Artur Jorge.

According to Rádio Itatiaia, the same Artur Jorge is another name that is being reviewed by the Atlético Mineiro board, which it considers difficult, due to the coach's appreciation after winning the Libertadores this year. Sérgio Conceição, ex-Porto, from Portugal, is another name that was sought out by the Minas Gerais club, just to discuss whether he would be willing to negotiate a contract.

_{Luís Castro and Sérgio Conceição (Photo: Reproduction/Botafogo/Vitor Silva and Reproduction/X/@FCPorto)}

None of the names monitored by Galo received official offers from the club, which is still looking for a place in next year's Copa Sudamericana.

Atlético-MG's next clashes

By focusing on the World Cup, and having lost both decisions, the Minas Gerais club finds itself with just 44 points in the Brazilian Championship, the score of those looking to escape relegation. According to the Department of Mathematics at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Galo's chance of being relegated is 0.56%, with parallel results the club can get rid of the risk.

_{Atlético-MG trains in search of a positive result in the last match of the year (Photo: Reproduction/Atlético/Pedro Souza)}

With no chance of getting a place in the Libertadores, the team is trying to secure a place in the Copa Sudamericana to be able to compete in an international competition next season. To do so, they must beat Athletico-PR next Sunday (08) at 4pm, in a match valid for the last round of the Brasileirão.

Featured photo: Luís Castro, ex-Botafogo, is consulted by Atlético-MG for 2025 (Reproduction/Botafogo/Vitor Silva)