# Santos FC financial crisis deepens > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/santos-fc-financial-crisis-over-player-wages > Updated: 2026-08-04T17:00:00.000Z. Sources: 55. Developments: 10. Santos FC’s cash‑flow problems persisted through June and July 2026. The board began courting buyers for goalkeeper Gabriel Brazão, with Turkish side Beşiktaş showing interest after Santos rejected a €10 million bid. By the end of June the club admitted it could only afford 25 % of striker Gabriel Barbosa’s (Gabigol) salary, delaying wages and warning that covering the full contract would be impossible. In early July the club announced a strategy to sell internal assets – including promising forward Robinho Jr., goalkeeper Brazão and defender JP Chermont – while arranging a non‑official friendly against União São João. On 8 July Santos formally terminated the contracts of forwards Billal Brahimi and Lautaro Díaz, saving roughly R$ 8 million. The team faced Botafogo in its first post‑World Cup league match on 16 July; Botafogo highlighted low ticket sales and promoted three under‑17 players for the fixture. On 18 July Santos and forward Tiquinho Soares mutually rescinded his contract, making him a free agent. A three‑month delay in image‑rights payments was confirmed on 20 July, with the board promising a payment plan by 31 July. The FIFA transfer ban over a R$ 1.09 billion debt to Monaco remained in force. In the Copa do Brasil, Santos drew 0‑0 with Remo in the first leg on 1 August. Ticket sales for the second leg surged past 20 000, the Lado A stand sold out and remaining seats were priced between R$80 and R$300. Neymar was confirmed to travel to Belém for the 4 August match, though the squad will miss right‑back Igor Vinícius (lumbar issue) and defender Lucas Veríssimo. Santos will again be without those two players, while Remo will miss several men due to injury or contractual problems. ## Claims - Santos FC and Clube do Remo played the first leg of the Copa do Brasil round of 16 on 1 August 2026 at Vila Belmiro. (corroborated by 8 sources) - The match ended 0‑0. (corroborated by 8 sources) - Santos will host Remo on 1 August 2026 at Vila Belmiro for the first leg of the Copa do Brasil round of 16. (corroborated by 7 sources) - The second leg is scheduled for 4 August 2026 at Mangueirão in Belém. (corroborated by 6 sources) - The winner of the tie will receive a prize of R$ 4 million. (corroborated by 6 sources) - The match was broadcast live on SporTV and Premiere. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Barreal hit the post twice after passes from Gabigol, and Neymar, Gabigol and Barreal each struck the woodwork during the match. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Neymar is confirmed in Santos’ starting lineup for the first leg. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Neymar's participation in the second leg is uncertain because he is scheduled to appear at a charitable auction in São Paulo on Monday. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Santos expects Neymar to travel to Belém after the auction and be available for the match. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Midfielder Patrick, on loan at Remo, cannot play against Santos due to a loan clause. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-04: Santos FC seeks quarterfinal spot against Remo in Copa do Brasil Santos FC faces Remo on 4 Aug 2026 in the Copa do Brasil round of 16, needing a win to reach the quarter‑finals and claim a R$ 4 million prize, while marking the 16th anniversary of their 2010 title. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/santos-fc-seeks-quarterfinal-spot-against-remo-in-copa-do-brasil ### 2026-08-02: Remo and Santos set for Copa do Brasil second leg in Belém with over 20,000 tickets sold Remo and Santos clash in the Copa do Brasil second leg in Belém on 4 Aug; over 20 000 tickets sold, Neymar confirmed, Santos missing key defenders. 14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/clube-do-remo-prepares-for-copa-do-brasil-roundof16-second-leg-against-santos-at-mangueiro ### 2026-07-31: Santos and Remo draw 0-0 in Copa do Brasil first‑leg match Santos and Remo drew 0‑0 in the Copa do Brasil first‑leg on 1 Aug 2026; the tie goes to a second leg in Belém on 4 Aug with a R$ 4 million prize at stake. 38 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/santos-fc-grapples-with-player-contracts-neymar-stays-patricks-release-mayke-lawsuit ### 2026-07-20: Santos FC faces three‑month delay in player image‑rights payments, sparking tension Santos FC’s players report a three‑month delay in image‑rights payments, prompting a tense meeting, a transfer ban, and legal action by Tiquinho Soares as the club grapples with over R$ 1 billion in debt. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/santos-fc-faces-threemonth-delay-in-player-imagerights-payments-sparking-tension ### 2026-07-18: Santos FC terminates Tiquinho Soares contract Santos FC has mutually terminated Tiquinho Soares' contract, freeing the 35‑year‑old striker after limited appearances and a brief loan to Mirassol. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/santos-terminates-contract-with-striker-tiquinho-soares ### 2026-07-13: Botafogo gears up for Brasileirão return against Santos, highlights ticket sales and youth prospects Botafogo returns to the Brasileirão vs Santos, sells just over 10,000 tickets, and promotes youth striker Lucas Emanuel amid a focus on breaking low‑block defenses. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/botafogo-prepares-for-brasileiro-return-after-world-cup-break ### 2026-07-08: Santos FC terminates contracts of forwards Brahimi and Díaz as club cuts costs Santos FC ended contracts with forwards Billal Brahimi and Lautaro Díaz, saving up to R$8 million, as the club battles financial woes, a FIFA transfer ban and relegation risk. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/santos-fc-terminates-contracts-of-forwards-brahimi-and-daz-as-club-cuts-costs ### 2026-07-03: Santos FC targets player sales to balance books while prepping for friendly match Santos FC plans to sell prospects like Robinho Jr. and Gabriel Brazão to improve finances and will play a friendly vs União São João without Neymar. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/santos-fc-targets-player-sales-to-balance-books-while-prepping-for-friendly-match ### 2026-06-30: Santos FC struggles to afford Gabigol's salary as contract expires Santos FC may lose striker Gabigol as the club can’t meet his salary demands; he has scored 14 goals in 27 matches, matching his 2018 rate. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/santos-fc-struggles-to-afford-gabigols-salary-as-contract-expires ### 2026-06-09: Santos eyes sale of goalkeeper Gabriel Brazão amid financial woes Santos plans to sell goalkeeper Gabriel Brazão as financial strain mounts, while Gabriel Barbosa leads scoring and Benjamín Rollheiser shines in the team's fight near the relegation zone. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/santos-eyes-sale-of-goalkeeper-gabriel-brazo-amid-financial-woes --- Cite as: Santos FC financial crisis deepens. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/santos-fc-financial-crisis-over-player-wages