At Massis’ request, São Paulo reopen talks for Portuguese stopper | OneFootball

President Harry Massis’ presence at Barra Funda Training Center during São Paulo’s training session last Monday (22) was no coincidence. After dismissing Rui Costa from the role of football executive, the Tricolor president met with manager Rafinha, who is temporarily taking on multiple duties, and laid out the plan for the transfer market.

According to what AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR learned, at Massis’ request, the Morumbi club will reopen talks with Portuguese center-back Domingos Duarte.

Tricolor had ended negotiations to sign the 31-year-old, 1.92-meter-tall player after he asked for figures considered too high to play in Brazilian football and reacted negatively to different contract models presented by the club during the talks.

The turnaround began over the weekend. After learning of Rui Costa’s dismissal, Duarte’s agents contacted São Paulo. Opposed to the center-back’s stance of asking for more than had previously been agreed, his camp is concerned by the fact that he has not even received approaches from Europe considered ideal.

Duarte is seen by Tricolor as a key piece for its depleted defense, which lost Dória. A market opportunity considered unique. Club officials themselves emphasized to him and his camp that he would arrive as the undisputed starter in the position.

Having played for Sporting and Granada, in addition to being called up to the Portugal national team, the player brings the international experience demanded by the board. He had been playing for Getafe, also in La Liga, but his contract expires next June 30, allowing him to arrive without the club having to buy his rights.

Having played for Sporting and Granada, in addition to being called up to the Portugal national team, the player brings the international experience demanded by the board. He had been playing for Getafe, also in La Liga, but his contract expires next June 30, allowing him to arrive without the club having to buy his rights.

Duarte’s profile was appealing because of his leadership, physical strength, aerial presence, and quality in playing out from the back.

He was already close to Brazilian football in 2019, when he entered talks with Flamengo as a replacement for Pablo Marí.

On the field, he is known as a ball-playing center-back, with good distribution, quality in the air, and solidity in positional defending. His main traits are his reading of the game and his ability to start attacking moves from the back.

On the other hand, he is not a particularly fast defender, which means he performs better in systems with less exposed defensive lines and greater defensive protection.

São Paulo are looking for at least two more additions for their defensive sector. One of them will be an internal solution: Arboleda will be reintegrated into the squad and made available to Dorival Júnior for the rest of the season.

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