Athletico renews striker Leozinho; see the contract time

Athletico renewed the contract with the striker Leozinhoextending the bond for another season. The agreement with the 27-year-old player would run until the end of this year, as well as seven other athletes, but Furacão agreed to stay until the end of 2028.

Leozinho faced a series of criticisms at the beginning of the year and had been little used by coach Odair Hellmann. However, he regained ground with good performances in the victories over Remo and Mirassol, and created the winning goal against the São Paulo opponent, in the last two games before the Brasileirão break for the World Cup.

Before that, however, the striker overcame a month without taking the field — he entered at halftime of the game against Remo, on May 24, after being on the bench for five consecutive games. Before that, Leozinho had only been activated on April 23, the first game of the fifth phase of the Copa do Brasil, against Atlético-GO.

The excellent appearances earned praise and an outburst from Leozinho, who responded to criticism from the press and highlighted that Odair never ruled him out of the red-black squad.

“I believe there is a company here in Curitiba, from the press, that I think they have something personal against me because at all times they want to crucify me and sell me. Being from the club and Odair, I haven’t heard anything that will negotiate me or anything like that”, said Leozinho at the time.

Reveled in futsal, having been voted the best under-23 player in the world in the sport in 2019 and 2020, the striker says he is well adapted and has evolved physically and tactically. Since making the transition from the courts to the pitch with Hercílio Luz, in 2023, Leozinho passed through Ituano, in 2024, before arriving at Athletico, to compete in Série B, last year.

In 2025, Leozinho accumulated three goals and two assists in 32 games, eight as a starter. This season, he has scored one goal in 11 games, only one as a starter.

Leozinho should gain chances as a starter in friendlies during the interseason

Furacão players thrashed 10-0 in the training game against Andraus, a team that was relegated in the last Campeonato Paranaense, held at CT do Caju last Friday (3). The test started the sequence of friendlies that Furacão has on the calendar during this off-season.

Leozinho started the training game as a starter and could remain that way, especially with the departure of striker Julimar, who was traded to Sharjah FC, from the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, Furacão is trying to sign Colombian Kerwin Vargas, from Charlotte FC.

The next challenge is against Boca Juniors in an international match. The duel takes place this Wednesday (8), at 9pm, at the Padre Ernesto Martearena Stadium, in Salta, a city in northwest Argentina. The match will be shown on Disney+ streaming and ESPN 4, on closed TV. While Boca will receive a fee to participate in the friendly, the Brazilian team will have all expenses paid for organizing the event.

After that, Furacão will face Red Bull Bragantino precisely at the Cícero de Souza Marques Stadium, chosen by São Paulo as the venue for the Brasileirão game.

Check out Hurricane’s upcoming appointments

• Boca Juniors x Athletico: July 8th (Wednesday), at 9pm, at the Padre Ernesto Martearena stadium, in Salta;
• Red Bull Bragantino x Athletico: July 11th (Saturday), at 10am, at the Cícero de Souza Marques stadium, in Bragança Paulista;
• São Paulo x Athletico: July 22nd (Wednesday), at 9:30 pm, at the Cícero de Souza Marques stadium, in Bragança Paulista;
• Athletico x Internacional: July 25th (Saturday), at 6:30 pm, at Arena da Baixada, in Curitiba.