Depois de ver os estrangeiros e experientes Alexander Barboza, de 28 anos, e Bastos, de 34, se destacarem nas campanhas dos títulos da Libertadores e do Brasileirão do ano passado, o Botafogo tem apostado no perfil oposto nesta temporada. Enquanto o argentino e o angolano estão fora de ação para tratar lesões, são os jovens brasileiros Jair Cunha, de 20 anos, e David Ricardo, de 22, que assumem a responsabilidade de comandar o setor defensivo do técnico Renato Paiva. Foi com essa formação que o time perdeu para o Bahia e venceu o Carabobo-VEN, e é com ela que entrará em campo hoje, às 20h, diante do Internacional, no Nilton Santos, pela Série A.
Para comprar a promissora dupla, o alvinegro investiu cerca de R$ 100 milhões — R$ 89 milhões em Jair, junto ao Santos, e R$ 11 milhões em David Ricardo, ex-Ceará. Embora os dois tenham se destacado na Série B de 2024, cenário de competitividade inferior à da primeira divisão, a diretoria alvinegra identificou a possibilidade de ter um retorno técnico a curto e médio prazos, além da chance de faturar com revendas.
Se as circunstâncias para que os dois alcançassem a titularidade não foram das melhores, com as lesões de dois líderes do elenco, a resposta dos jovens em campo dá razão à cúpula de futebol.
Embora seja o mais novo da dupla, Jair chegou ao Botafogo sob pressão muito maior do que a depositada no seu companheiro. Isso porque, além do alto valor investido para comprá-lo, o clube teve ainda que liberar Tiquinho Soares ao Santos para fechar o negócio.
Por ver no centroavante um ídolo do elenco que começou a ser formado em 2022 e que se consagrou em 2024, a torcida alvinegra demonstrou certa “antipatia” com a chegada de Jair, que já havia sido alvo da SAF alvinegra na janela do meio da temporada passada.
Mas isso ficou para trás nos primeiros toques na bola de Jair. Com bom posicionamento, qualidade no um contra um, velocidade e precisão no passe, o zagueiro, que é constantemente convocado para as divisões de base da seleção, caiu nas graças do torcedor.
Já David Ricardo, menos badalado, enxergou no Botafogo a “oportunidade da vida”. Não à toa, fez de tudo para conseguir a liberação junto ao Ceará no início desta temporada.
Em paralelo ao início da trajetória no alvinegro, David vive a experiência de ser pai de primeira viagem. Em janeiro, nasceu Matteo Ricardo, seu filho com a mulher, Lays. Por isso, em sua primeira experiência profissional fora do Nordeste, o zagueiro, natural de Teresina (PI), tem se limitado aos compromissos com o Botafogo e a passar o tempo livre em casa com sua família. Quando eles conseguem pisar na rua, gostam de conhecer novos restaurantes.
This news was originally published on this post .
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