Grêmio fans question board over 'delay' in renewing contract

Grêmio , known for developing talent from its youth academy, is experiencing another tense moment with its fans. This time, the name in the spotlight is young Riquelme, who, despite his great potential, has yet to have his contract renewed, sparking a wave of criticism of the Grêmio board.

Riquelme was introduced to the professional squad by Mano Menezes and scored on his debut in a South American match against Sportivo Luqueño. Since then, he's become part of the coaching staff's plans and has won the hearts of the fans. It's worth noting that his current contract with the club runs until December 2026, but with an automatic renewal clause for another year.

The board's delay in taking more decisive action worries fans, as the player is already attracting attention from other clubs. Therefore, internal pressure is growing for the board to activate the clause and, most importantly, adjust his salary and increase the release clause, shielding the player from future offers.

Furthermore, many Grêmio fans point out that the club has already lost other talented youth players for what they consider to be low fees, such as Cuiabano, Zé Guilherme, Kauan Kelvin, and Guga. Therefore, Riquelme comes to symbolize more than just a good sports project: he represents the board's ability (or lack thereof) to retain its most valuable assets.

Club must act in the next few days

Behind the scenes, Grêmio is expected to present a salary increase proposal soon. This is to prevent the young prospect from being another player to leave Porto Alegre prematurely. The renewal, if finalized, would include performance targets, bonuses, and a new contractual clause, significantly higher than the current one.

With this, the Tricolor seeks to balance its rhetoric of valuing its youth academy with concrete actions, something the fans have long demanded. It's worth noting that, in today's football, losing a promising young player through carelessness can be costly, both sportingly and financially. Therefore, acting quickly is more than necessary: it's strategic.