São Paulo FC prepares the return of Damián Bobadilla, defensive midfielder who left for the World Cup, and expects to have him back next week before the clash with Athletico‑PR on July 22.

When does Bobadilla rejoin training?

Bobadilla arrived in Asunción on July 6, after Paraguay's elimination from the Copa. He took a few days off and should resume training at Barra Funda next week, according to head coach Dorival Júnior.

Why does his absence worry the Tricolor?

The midfielder featured in four Paraguay matches, totaling 190 minutes. In the opener against the USA, he scored the own goal that sealed the loss, and he played in the penalty shoot‑out against Germany. Without him, São Paulo lacked a holding presence in midfield during the more‑than‑two‑week break granted to the squad.

How does Bobadilla's comeback affect transfer plans?

The board hoped a solid showing would spark talks with European clubs, but his uneven Copa performance dampened interest. So far, only French teams have shown any desire to sign him, lowering the club's expected extra revenue.

What lies ahead for São Paulo FC?

The Tricolor returns to the field on the night of July 22, at 21:30 Brasília time, against Athletico‑PR in Bragança Paulista, as part of the Série A. Dorival Júnior has been running training sessions since June 17 and expects Bobadilla's reintegration to complete the tactical tweaks worked on in recent days.

Bobadilla arrives at a decisive moment, with the team needing defensive stability to improve its league standing. Fan expectations are high, and the board is closely monitoring the midfielder's performance in upcoming training sessions.