The world of esports has just seen a significant shake-up, courtesy of FURIA’s VALORANT team. Jaime Pádua, the CEO and founder of FURIA, recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to address the team’s latest roster move. In a tweet, Pádua expressed his support for the athlete who’s been sidelined due to health reasons and called on fans to rally behind the team. This development comes after the announcement that Leonardo “Mwzera” Serrati would be moving to the bench due to health issues.
Mwzera himself broke the news on social media, revealing that he won’t be able to participate in the second split of the VCT Americas due to a medical condition. The player assured his fans that he’s eager to return to action as soon as he receives medical clearance, whether it’s for streaming or competitive play. As Mwzera put it, “I’ll try to explain… as soon as my doctor clears me to do lives, or play and return to competitive [matches].” This unexpected turn of events has sent ripples through the esports community, with fans and analysts alike speculating about the team’s next move.
A Change in the VALORANT Roster
The news of Mwzera’s benching wasn’t entirely unexpected, given the challenges that come with competing at the highest level. However, the timing of this roster change has raised eyebrows, especially with the VCT Americas just around the corner. As Pádua explained, the decision to bench Mwzera wasn’t planned, but the organization is committed to supporting their player during this difficult time. The complication of obtaining an American visa has limited the team’s options, but Pádua is confident that whoever joins the team will be a valuable addition. As he tweeted, “the change in VALORANT wasn’t planned, but we totally respect our beloved @mwzera’s moment… unfortunately, the options are very limited due to the American visa required, but I’m sure whoever arrives will be very important for the team too. Let’s support!”
Former caster Guilherme “Tixinha” Cheida weighed in on the situation, stating that the timing of this roster change couldn’t be worse. With FURIA eliminated in the early stages of the first split and the second season kicking off on March 21, the team faces an uphill battle. Tixinha believes that FURIA has only a handful of viable options, and some of those may not be feasible due to logistical constraints. As he pointed out on Twitter, “the change comes at a terrible time… FURIA was eliminated from the VCT on January 23, they’ve been on vacation for 2 months, and the championship starts on March 21, which raises many questions.”
The big question on everyone’s mind is: who could be a good substitute for FURIA, considering both skill and logistical practicality? We invite you to share your thoughts in the comments section. As the VALORANT community continues to speculate about FURIA’s next move, one thing is certain – the team will need to act quickly to fill the void left by Mwzera’s absence. With the VCT Americas just around the corner, the pressure is on for FURIA to find a suitable replacement and get back to competitive form.