Grêmio and Cascavel: A Controversy-Filled Clash in the Copa Sul

Yesterday, on 13, Grêmio and Cascavel met in the first round of the Copa Sul, which brings together teams in the under-17 and under-20 categories. But what truly stole the spotlight was a banner shown by the Cascavel supporters, who called the rival a “deadbeat”.

The Match Itself

On the pitch, things were really heating up! In the under-17 match, the two teams drew in an electrifying 2 against a 2. Meanwhile, in the under-20 category, Grêmio got the better of it and beat Cascavel by 2 to 1. ??

The Controversial Banner

The famous banner, which read “Deadbeat, pay Cascavel”, was on display at the Estádio Olímpico Regional. To add a special touch, it also carried Grêmio’s symbol. The fans from Paraná made the situation even more visible by posting a photo of the protest on their social media after the matches.

The Debt That Sparked the Confusion

But why all the fuss? Cascavel is demanding a debt related to the sale of the midfielder Bitello to Dynamo Moscow, carried out in September of 2023. After all, Bitello—developed by the Paraná club—had been at Grêmio since 2018 and was negotiated for no less than ten million euros, which is roughly R$ 52 million.

Since Cascavel was the training club, they claim a right to 30% of that amount—that is, about R$ 15 million. However, so far they have received only R$ 10,6 million, even after taking action with the CBF’s National Dispute Resolution Chamber (CNRD).

And the situation doesn’t stop there! Cascavel claims Grêmio still owes about R$ 8 million, considering interest and monetary correction. However, in August, Grêmio submitted a plan to the CNRD to settle debts totaling R$ 16 million with several creditors over 60 months. Among those debts, the amount owed to Cascavel is R$ 6.842.122,97.

Reaction from the Cascavel President

Valdinei Silva, the president of Cascavel, didn’t stay quiet in the face of this situation and criticized Grêmio’s stance in an interview with the UmDois Esportes website. He said:

“We asked for the transfer ban, Grêmio delayed in every way possible, and when they saw it wasn’t going to work, they tried a moratorium. We’re trying to block their receipt of the money from the Copa do Brasil.”

He also didn’t hold back in his words, saying Grêmio is being a “bad payer” and that this is a disservice to Brazilian football.

The Future of Bitello

It’s worth remembering that Bitello is doing well at Dynamo Moscow, having accumulated 19 goals and 30 assists in 113 games since starting his career in Russia. The expectation is that this story will keep producing many more chapters!

So, what did you think of this whole mess? It seems the rivalry is here to stay!