Bombshell: Cuca green-lights Santos talks with São Paulo for Arboleda | OneFootball

AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR found out in recent days that Santos has been seriously considering the possibility of opening talks with São Paulo to sign center-back Arboleda.

Out of the club’s plans since he walked out on Tricolor and disappeared for a month, the 34-year-old Ecuadorian has been offered to their coastal rivals for about 15 days. At first, they turned down the “offer.” But in recent days they resumed talks with the player’s camp.

The report found that coach Cuca approves of the Ecuadorian defender’s profile and views a possible signing favorably. Experienced and with extensive experience in Brazilian football, Arboleda has characteristics considered important to strengthen Santos’s defensive system throughout the season.

So far, however, there have been no official negotiations between Santos and São Paulo. What happened was merely the player’s name being presented to the club from Baixada Santista, which then began analyzing the situation and studying the feasibility of a possible move.

According to what AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR learned from sources in São Paulo’s top brass, Arboleda has no real chance of staying at Morumbi, as some fans had hoped after the absences in central defense and Dória’s departure forced coach Dorival Júnior to use youth players such as Osório.

The final straw came when the player took legal action against the club, demanding his immediate reinstatement to the squad.

Some journalists who cover São Paulo on a daily basis even said the center-back would be reinstated at Dorival’s request, but the football department no longer accepts working with the player. There is resistance from the squad leaders as well.

Arboleda has been receiving inquiries from several clubs in Brazil and abroad, but none of them have progressed into a concrete offer for a permanent transfer. The only offer came from Vitória, which wanted him on loan until the end of the season, something Tricolor rejected.

Since arriving at Tricolor in 2017, Arboleda established himself as one of the team’s main defensive leaders, racking up titles, call-ups to the Ecuador national team, and a bond with part of the fan base. Despite the less favorable moment, a possible departure has not been ruled out, as long as there is a sporting or financial return for the club.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.