Three Saudi Pro League loans reshape Cruzeiro’s attack in less than a day

Cruzeiro have signed three attacking players from three different Saudi Pro League clubs on loan in the space of fewer than 24 hours, completing a rapid overhaul of their forward line.

The Brazilian club’s first move was confirmed on Wednesday evening, when Al-Nassr agreed to send Brazilian winger Wesley Teixeira to Cruzeiro for one season. The deal does not include an option for Cruzeiro to make the transfer permanent.

Two more agreements followed on Thursday night, with Neom and Al-Ettifaq approving loans to the same Brazilian club within a six-minute period.

Neom announced at 21:00 local time that Uruguay forward Luciano Rodriguez would join Cruzeiro for the 2026 season on a one-year loan. Six minutes later, Al-Ettifaq confirmed that Portugal winger Joao Costa would also move to Cruzeiro for one season.

The three arrivals mean Cruzeiro’s attacking setup will now be built around players arriving from the Saudi Pro League. Wesley Teixeira and Joao Costa are expected to operate in the wide areas, with Luciano Rodriguez positioned as the central striker.

The sequence of announcements began with Al-Nassr’s decision to release Wesley Teixeira temporarily. That was followed by the two deals involving Neom and Al-Ettifaq, giving Cruzeiro a trio of new attacking options from separate Saudi clubs before a full day had passed.

The additions come as Cruzeiro compete in the current Brazilian league season. They are seventh in the table with 30 points from 21 matches, having won eight games, drawn six and lost seven.

Rodriguez’s loan from Neom provides the club with a recognised central forward, while Wesley Teixeira and Joao Costa offer options on either side of the attack. The three players are therefore set to form a new-look frontline for the remainder of the campaign.

The moves also represent a notable link between the Brazilian league and the Saudi Pro League, with Cruzeiro turning to three different Saudi clubs to strengthen one area of the squad in a remarkably short period.

There is no purchase clause attached to Wesley Teixeira’s move from Al-Nassr. The available information confirms that all three agreements are for one sporting season, with Rodriguez joining from Neom and Joao Costa arriving from Al-Ettifaq on the same basis.

Cruzeiro’s league position means the club remain within reach of the teams above them, but their record after 21 matches includes seven defeats. The new arrivals are intended to add greater depth and variety in attack as the season progresses.