Alisson didn’t ask to join Corinthians, must win back São Paulo fans | OneFootball

Midfielder Alisson continues training normally with his teammates at São Paulo's training center, following a frustrating and poorly managed negotiation between the parties with Corinthians.

Undeniably, the midfielder, who was once a fan favorite, has lost favor with the vast majority of São Paulo supporters. He even visited the rival's training center to 'check out the place' when his move to the Itaquera club was almost finalized. However, they backed out, and Alisson had to return to Tricolor.

More details about the situation were revealed by the club's executive director of football, Rui Costa, in an interview with UOL on Thursday (19). The director revealed that Alisson never asked to change clubs and leave Tricolor.

“Alisson never came into my office, nor the president's office, to say ‘I want to leave São Paulo and go to Corinthians’. Alisson, due to a relationship he built with Corinthians' coach, Dorival, because he was a champion at São Paulo with Dorival, because he has almost 150 games wearing the São Paulo jersey, because he played with a broken ankle, with a broken rib, all of this must be said.”

“Alisson, facing a scenario of having only one more year on his contract, being already 32 years old, the possibility arises, they say he didn't have much space, because today São Paulo's midfield is the reality that is set, very qualified players, with a different profile from his, the possibility arises of going to Corinthians, which expresses the intention to sign him,” Rui Costa began.

“And Corinthians and São Paulo sit at the table, São Paulo aware of the significance of this, I'm not an idiot. We built a negotiation process that shielded the athlete and allowed him to practice his professional activity at a club. And for reasons that are not for me to comment on here, Corinthians withdrew from the negotiation.”

“When Corinthians withdraws from the negotiation, it creates a new scenario that we have to address. Will Alisson have to win back São Paulo's fans? No doubt about it. But Alisson is integrated, training, making an effort, he has already improved his physical numbers, he had a conversation with Crespo. Crespo reached out to say, I count on you, I have to create a reintegration process for you, both sportively and humanly,” explained the Tricolor director.

AND THERE WERE MORE INQUIRIES

Rui Costa also confirmed that other teams approached São Paulo to inquire about Alisson's situation for a possible signing, but the talks did not progress.

“And obviously this is a difficult subject, there were inquiries from other clubs, we reached a point where we thought it would be better for him to play elsewhere, but these negotiations are not that simple, because São Paulo will only negotiate Alisson within its parameters. I will not give Alisson away for free to a club, because somehow it is understood that he can no longer play at São Paulo.”

“Alisson faced perhaps the greatest hell someone can face in their life (depression). And he overcame it with dignity, with courage, with the support of São Paulo, with the support of the fans. In fact, this athlete came into my office, yes, he came into my office, and said he didn't want to receive any salary while he wasn't working.”

“So Alisson didn't go to Corinthians because Corinthians decided not to sign him anymore. And from then on, he is a São Paulo player. And São Paulo has the duty to understand how this process needs to be rebuilt. We have a short squad, meaning he is an important player. And that is how he will be treated. São Paulo is not currently releasing him for negotiation,” Costa asserted.

The player's future now depends solely on himself in training. Rui Costa explained that Crespo opened this opportunity for Alisson to work and reclaim his place in the São Paulo squad.

“The same Crespo who now, in light of everything that happened, which was not caused by him, had the generosity, the professionalism to say, I count on you here, let's create a path for you to reclaim your place here and with the fans. Because Crespo, Rafinha, I, the president, know how much this impacts the fans,” he concluded.

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