Matheus Goncalves Frozen Out at Al-Ahli: A Rebellion or Tactical Adaptation?

A cryptic post on X (Twitter) by Brazilian winger Matheus Goncalves earlier this week sparked a wave of debate: 'Again? It's impossible for me to understand this.' Immediately afterward, he changed his Instagram profile picture to black and deleted all images related to Al-Ahli. This move was labeled by Saudi media and Goal.com as 'a new crisis' brewing at the Jeddah club. But what is really happening? Matheus Goncalves, 21, was signed by Al-Ahli from Flamengo in the summer of 2026 under coach Matthias Jaissle. Jaissle, who previously had success at Red Bull Salzburg, discovered Goncalves' talent and gave him regular playing time. Last season, Goncalves made 34 appearances across all competitions, scoring 4 goals and providing 4 assists – a decent tally for a young winger new to the league. He quickly became one of Jaissle's standout finds. However, everything changed when Al-Ahli appointed Marino Pusic as head coach at the start of the 2026-2026 season. Pusic, formerly of Shakhtar Donetsk, is known for his strict tactical philosophy and high demands on tactical discipline. Since Pusic took over, Goncalves has completely disappeared from the plans. As of Round 7 of the Saudi Roshn League, he has not been registered in the matchday squad for five consecutive matches. This season, Goncalves has made only 2 appearances from the bench, totaling 38 minutes, with no goals or assists. The contrast between the two seasons is stark. From a regular starter, Goncalves has become surplus. And his reaction on social media shows frustration reaching a boiling point. But is this truly a crisis? Or just a typical coach-player conflict in football? From a tactical perspective, Pusic's decision to freeze out Goncalves shows no signs of injury. It is a deliberate choice. Pusic likely prefers a different profile of winger – one with better defensive work rate or stricter positional discipline – compared to Jaissle's system. Goncalves is a technical, flair player who may lack defensive sacrifice. Under Pusic, this could be a fatal flaw. Data from last season (0.24 goals+assists per 90 minutes) shows Goncalves was a useful player but not an irreplaceable star. Being omitted for five consecutive matches is a clear signal: Pusic does not want to use him, and this decision is consistent over weeks, not a temporary choice. If Al-Ahli continue to perform well, pressure on Pusic will be low. But if the team slips, the narrative of 'Jaissle discovered Goncalves and Pusic discarded him' could become a media weapon. Financially, Goncalves may be a depreciating asset. He was bought from Flamengo for an undisclosed fee, but young Brazilian players moving to Saudi Arabia typically range between €5-15 million. If he continues not playing, his value will drop quickly. However, Al-Ahli is owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), so financial pressure is not severe. More concerning is the morale issue: a disgruntled young player can affect the dressing room. The contrarian view: This is not a major crisis as portrayed by the media. It is a typical personal conflict when a new coach wants to assert authority. Jaissle considered Goncalves a 'discovery', but Pusic is not obligated to retain his predecessor's legacy. Goncalves' actions – posting black images, deleting club photos – are expressions of frustration, but no teammate has publicly supported him. This suggests he may be isolated in the dressing room. If Al-Ahli does not have poor results, this story will quickly fade. However, if the situation persists, it is likely Goncalves will be loaned or sold in the January transfer window. Teams in Brazil or other Saudi clubs may be interested. This is also an opportunity to observe how Pusic handles other Jaissle-era players: is Goncalves the only one being frozen out, or is it a broader pattern? Conclusion: The Matheus Goncalves case is an early signal of tactical change at Al-Ahli under Pusic. It is not a sporting crisis, but it could become a crack if not handled deftly. The question is: can a young player adapt to the new coach's demands, or will Al-Ahli lose a promising talent after just one successful season? The coming winter will provide the answer.