In Baku, where the glass towers and old city walls give Sabah an unlikely European backdrop, Du Queiroz has found a new route through the continental game. The Brazilian midfielder has joined the Azerbaijani side on loan from Zenit, drawn by the chance to play in the Champions League after limited opportunities in Russia and a disrupted spell back home with Grêmio.
Key takeaways
- Du Queiroz joined Sabah on loan from Zenit in September 2026.
- Sabah are competing in the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.
- The Azerbaijani club came through four qualifying rounds to reach the competition proper.
- The 26-year-old made his Sabah debut late in a 4-0 defeat to Manchester United.
- Sabah host Slavia Prague on Tuesday in their second Champions League match.
A continental opportunity in Baku
For Du Queiroz, the appeal of Sabah was clear from the first conversation. He had been through loan spells after struggling for regular minutes at Zenit, and viewed Europe’s biggest club competition as an opportunity to put himself back before a wider audience.
“The Champions League was undoubtedly the main attraction,” he said. “I was not playing very much at Zenit, after some loans, and then they explained the club’s project and the Champions League. Its scale, the possibility of playing and the exposure involved made it very interesting. The club’s facilities are also very good, so I was very excited.”
Founded only in September 2017, Sabah have reached a landmark well ahead of the usual timetable for such a young club. Their 2026-27 Champions League campaign is their first, achieved after negotiating four rounds of qualification.
The scale of the occasion was immediate for the former Corinthians player. He was selected during his opening week at the club for the trip to face Manchester United, entering near the end of the 4-0 loss in front of more than 80,000 spectators.
“It was my first week and there was already a match against Manchester United,” Du Queiroz said. “To play in stadiums where so many idols have played, before more than 80,000 people, means a lot to me. It is very rewarding. It also matters greatly for the club. Sabah are very young, and it is important not only to be in this competition, which is difficult enough, but to compete and try to collect points.”
He has also been struck by Baku itself. The midfielder compared the Azerbaijani capital’s modern skyline to Dubai, while noting the appeal of its older districts.
“I was surprised by both the club’s structure and the city,” he said. “It is a beautiful place, very new in many areas, a little like Dubai. But the old part is beautiful as well.”
Sabah’s immediate challenge comes at home against Slavia Prague. Alongside their European ambition, Du Queiroz wants to help the club challenge for the domestic title.
From Corinthians to a fresh start
The move to Azerbaijan follows a career path that changed sharply in 2023, when Du Queiroz left Corinthians for Zenit. A product of the São Paulo club’s academy, he had been at Corinthians from the age of 10 until his departure at 22 or 23, making the transition abroad a significant personal and footballing adjustment.
He had been in strong form when the Russian offer arrived and had long wanted a move to Europe, but he did not establish himself as he had hoped. Brazilian teammates helped him settle away from football, yet he found the sporting adaptation harder, particularly in the different methods and playing style.
“When Zenit appeared, we chose to go because I had the dream of playing in Europe,” he said. “But then you arrive and do not get many chances. It was difficult because my whole life had been at Corinthians.”
Du Queiroz said he eventually felt unable to wait for his opportunity in Saint Petersburg. Although Zenit did not initially want to let him leave, he pushed for a loan because he needed consistent match action.
That decision led him to Grêmio in February 2024, though his return to Brazil was also interrupted. He started the year positively, but the floods in Rio Grande do Sul forced the team to play away from home. A broken toe then sidelined him, and by the time he returned the campaign was nearing its end.
“I had imagined it differently,” he said of his time at Grêmio. “The first six months were good, but then came the floods and we had to play away. Soon after that I broke a toe. It was an awkward injury, and when I came back the year was almost over.”
Now Sabah offers another reset. Du Queiroz believes Champions League visibility can help him return to a more prominent European market and, eventually, compete again at the highest level with bigger clubs.
“From the moment the opportunity came up, I thought about the visibility and getting back into a larger market,” he said. “I did not have as many chances at Zenit, but I had important numbers. This is a major showcase for me.”
