Rodrigo Becão, the talented center-back from Fenerbahçe, tragically ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during a Turkish Championship match against Istanbul on Sunday, October 15. This serious knee injury significantly complicates his prospects for transferring to Cruzeiro, who had already entered advanced negotiations to acquire the player.
While competing for the ball with striker Piatek, Becão landed awkwardly, resulting in the devastating injury. The incident has understandably raised concerns for both the player and the clubs involved. "Rodrigo Becão, do Fenerbahçe, sofreu uma grave lesão no joelho durante a partida" reported journalist Thiago Tolentino, providing details on the unfortunate event.
Becão, aged 28, is known for his impressive stature at 1.91m, along with a commendable record of winning approximately 70% of aerial duels and excelling at short passes throughout his career. He has played significantly for Fenerbahçe since joining, appearing in 37 matches and scoring twice.
The player began his professional career at Bahia, where he made 20 appearances and netted one goal before moving to Udinese. At Udinese, Becão became well-known, appearing in 130 games and scoring six goals. His performances caught the eye of many clubs, including Cruzeiro, who sought to bolster their defensive options.
Before the injury, negotiations between Cruzeiro and Fenerbahçe were underway, initiated at the request of Fernando Diniz, the coach of Cruzeiro. Diniz had identified Becão as a valuable asset for strengthening the team's defense. Following the serious injury, the prospects of securing the transfer now hang precariously in the balance.
With the long recovery period often associated with knee ligament injuries, Cruzeiro will likely need to reconsider their plans. Typically, recovery from such injuries takes many months, and it could significantly delay Becão’s return to the pitch, potentially ruling him out for the subsequent season.
Given the current injury situation, Cruzeiro may need to explore alternative defensive options. Presently, they have players like Villalba, Zé Ivaldo, João Marcelo, Jonathan Jesus, Weverton, and Pedrão available for their defensive line-up. This incident has accelerated the urgency for the club to reassess their recruitment strategy. Will they find another defender who can match Becão's capabilities just as the season approaches?
The circumstances surrounding Becão’s injury serve as yet another reminder of the unpredictable nature of professional sports, where player fitness can dramatically alter the plans of clubs hoping to assemble competitive squads for challenging leagues. The upcoming weeks will be pivotal as both Becão moves through the recovery process, and Cruzeiro strategizes their future signings. They may need to act swiftly to mitigate the impact of losing out on this promising player whose skills had so much potential to contribute to their success.
