Good start! Renato announces Grêmio return, then deletes post 💡

Renato Gaúcho, the 63-year-old former Grêmio coach, announced his return to the club for the remainder of the 2026 season on social media. The announcement was made on his Instagram profile with a photo of him wearing a Grêmio shirt alongside his daughter Carol. The post read, "Hi, Grêmio fans! 😀 I’m very happy to be back!"

However, the coach later deleted the story post, and it was up to his daughter, Carol Portaluppi, to clarify why she removed the "announcement" photo. In a video on her personal Instagram account, Carol requested that her followers pretend they hadn't seen the deleted post and act surprised if they did happen to notice it.

Renato Gaúcho is expected to arrive in Porto Alegre on Monday, 14th, to finalize the contract with Grêmio, which is set to run until the end of 2026. There is also a possibility of an automatic renewal until the end of 2027 if the team meets certain targets outlined in the initial agreement. The club is anticipated to formally confirm the coach's return after the necessary bureaucratic procedures are completed.

The Tricolor idol has not been with Grêmio since being dismissed by Vasco da Gama in June 2026. With a mission to steer the team away from the risk of relegation, Renato Gaúcho faces a challenging task. The club currently sits 16th in the Brasileirão, tied with Vasco da Gama and Internacional for the 28 points, with the bottom four clubs vying for relegation.

Despite the difficult situation in the national league, Renato Gaúcho remains in contention for the Copa do Brasil, where Grêmio faces Atlético-MG in the semifinals in November. This marks Renato Portaluppi's fifth stint as head coach of Grêmio, having led the team previously in 2010/2011, 2013, 2016 to 2021, and 2022 to 2024.