After row, São Paulo agree Paulinho move to Portugal, ‘ban debt’ due | OneFootball

São Paulo have finalized the loan transfer of 21-year-old forward Paulinho Venuto to União Torreense, of Portugal’s second division. The loan deal runs until June 2027 and includes a purchase option with fixed amounts and percentages that could bring approximately R$ 6.5 million (€1.1 million) into the São Paulo club’s coffers.

Initially, the Alagoas-born player will join the Portuguese club’s under-23 squad, going through an observation period before a possible promotion to the senior team. Despite competing in the second national division, Torreense secured a place in the Europa League after being crowned Portuguese Cup champions by defeating Sporting.

How does Tricolor profit?

If it chooses to complete Paulinho’s permanent signing at the end of the agreed period, the European club will immediately pay €600,000 (around R$ 3.5 million) for 60% of the player’s economic rights.

The contract model also establishes that the remaining 40% of the player’s rights may be acquired gradually: 20% in the first year after the purchase for €200,000 (R$ 1.2 million) and the final 20% in the second year for another €300,000 (R$ 1.8 million). The total ends up being what the club struggled so much to come up with to settle its debt with Lazio over Marcos Antonio and get out of FIFA’s transfer ban.

Controversy in deal with Botafogo-SP

Before reaching an agreement with the European side, the Tricolor forward had been close to joining Botafogo-SP. The initial negotiation provided for the player’s definitive transfer on a free basis, with São Paulo retaining 40% of the rights to any future sale.

The deal sparked negative backlash among fans on social media, leading São Paulo’s board to reassess the terms and propose a straightforward loan without a purchase option to the Ribeirão Preto club.

Afterward, the offer presented by Torreense was viewed by the Tricolor hierarchy as more advantageous from both a financial and sporting perspective.

History at São Paulo

A standout product of São Paulo’s youth academy, Paulinho was the club’s top scorer in the most recent edition of the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior. His season was affected by a knee ligament strain suffered in the final of the youth tournament, an injury that kept him sidelined for about two months.

With the first team — where he made his debut under coach Hernán Crespo — the forward made only one appearance this year, against São Bernardo in the Paulista Championship. Lacking space under Roger Machado and later under Dorival Júnior, the player, now above the under-20 age limit, was allowed to seek new opportunities on the market.

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