MIBR has moved its whole Valorant roster to inactive status, putting Erick “aspas” Santos, Zachary “zekken” Patrone, Andrew “Verno” Maust, Roberto “Mazino” Rivas and Ian “tex” Botsch on the market ahead of VCT 2027. The Brazilian organization announced the move on X on October 23, 2026, less than a week after it was reported as one of eight VCT Americas partner teams for the next two-year cycle.
The players are still under contract. Any club that wants one of them has to negotiate a transfer with MIBR directly.
What MIBR Said About the Valorant Roster Change
MIBR’s statement was posted in Portuguese. According to Insider Gaming’s translation, the club said it made the decision after talks with the players’ representatives and because of “significant changes to the competitive structure” planned for 2027, including what it called a regional transition and the challenges that come with it.
The statement adds that “all existing contractual obligations remain in effect, and any potential transfers will be negotiated directly with MIBR.” In other words, these players aren’t free agents. A team that wants aspas or zekken will probably have to pay a buyout.
The staff stays. VLR.gg lists fRoD as head coach, Happy as assistant coach and Nandinnn as manager, and none of them were part of the announcement.
| Player | Nationality | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Erick “aspas” Santos | Brazil | Inactive, contract runs through 2027 |
| Zachary “zekken” Patrone | United States | Inactive |
| Andrew “Verno” Maust | United States | Inactive |
| Roberto “Mazino” Rivas | Chile | Inactive |
| Ian “tex” Botsch | United States | Inactive, announced free agency in September |
Why the Brazil Division Changes Everything
The key detail is the new regional setup. Sheep Esports reports that VCT Americas will run four divisions in 2027: North America, LATAM North, LATAM South and Brazil. LOUD and MIBR are the two partner teams placed in Brazil.
VLR.gg reports that teams in the region can field a maximum of two imports, which means at least three Brazilian players in the starting five. MIBR’s 2026 lineup had one, aspas. Verno, zekken and tex are American, and Mazino is Chilean.
VLR.gg also reports that partner teams could have kept their current rosters despite the import rule. That makes this a choice, not a forced move. MIBR looked at a lineup that cost a lot, missed every international event this year and didn’t fit the new division, and decided to start again.
Riot cut each region from 10 partners to eight for 2027 and 2028, so 32 teams hold partner slots in total. Our full list of VCT partner teams for 2027-2028 covers who got in and who missed out.
A Superteam That Never Delivered
On paper, this was one of the most exciting rosters in the Americas. MIBR finished in the top six at Champions 2025, then rebuilt around aspas and Verno. It added zekken, who won Masters Madrid 2024 with Sentinels, and brought in Mazino and tex to reunite the core of the 2024 LEVIATÁN team.
The results never matched the hype. Here’s how MIBR’s 2026 season played out, per VLR.gg:
| Event | Result |
|---|---|
| VCT Americas Kickoff 2026 | Lost three straight best-of-five qualifiers, missed Masters Santiago |
| VCT Americas Stage 1 | Top six |
| Esports World Cup 2026 | Top eight |
| VCT Americas Stage 2 | Top six, missed Champions Shanghai |
That’s zero appearances at Riot’s three global events in 2026. It stings more because two rival Americas teams did win this year. Insider Gaming notes that LEVIATÁN won Masters London and LOUD won Champions Shanghai. Both are partner teams for 2027 as well. MIBR was one of the big names that missed Valorant Champions 2026.
Where Could aspas, zekken and Verno Go Next?
Nothing is confirmed. Spilled noted fan talk linking zekken to Sentinels or G2, Verno to Sentinels and aspas to LOUD, but no outlet has reported actual talks or offers.
aspas is the most interesting case. He re-signed with MIBR through the end of 2027, so he is the most expensive player to buy and also the one who fits the Brazil division best. MIBR could still bring him back once it rebuilds around Brazilian talent. Benched players have returned before. Fans pointed to 100 Thieves, which later brought back players it had sidelined.
The timing works in the players’ favor. Free agency opens on November 3, and teams are reshuffling everywhere. Tyson “TenZ” Ngo even posted “LFT” on X this week, adding another big name to an already crowded market.
What Happens Next for MIBR
MIBR hasn’t named any replacements. It has about 10 weeks before the 2027 Kickoff, which runs from January 14 to February 7 in São Paulo, according to Sheep Esports. As a partner, it gets direct entry into Kickoff, so there’s no qualifier to worry about.
The likely path is a roster built mostly from Brazilian players, with at most two imports. MIBR could also keep aspas as its anchor if it wants to. The next few weeks of transfer news will show which way the club goes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did MIBR release aspas?
No. aspas was moved to inactive status, but his contract is still active. MIBR said any transfer has to be negotiated directly with the club.
Why did MIBR bench its Valorant roster?
MIBR cited changes to the 2027 competitive structure, including a regional transition. In 2027, MIBR plays in a Brazil division where teams can field at most two imports, and the 2026 roster had only one Brazilian player.
Is MIBR still a VCT partner team in 2027?
Yes. MIBR was reported as one of eight VCT Americas partner teams for the 2027-2028 cycle, alongside LOUD, Sentinels, KRÜ Esports, NRG, G2 Esports, LEVIATÁN and 100 Thieves.
When does VCT free agency start?
Free agency for the 2027 season opens on November 3, 2026.
