Behind the scenes: São Paulo kept Arboleda to deny his release | OneFootball

Arboleda is back at São Paulo. After nearly a month away, the 34-year-old center-back reported back on Monday afternoon (4) at the Barra Funda training center and, as AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR had already revealed, it was decided that he will be fined and will keep training separately until the next transfer window, when he is expected to be transferred.

Speaking to the outlet, sources from São Paulo’s top brass pointed to some of the reasons why the club abandoned the plan to terminate the Ecuadorian’s contract, which runs until the end of 2027.

“We are prioritizing financial protection and disciplinary control over an immediate split,” said one of the people consulted.

After reporting to the Barra Funda training center accompanied by his representatives, the Ecuadorian was formally reprimanded by the football department leadership, made up of Rui Costa and Rafinha, who made their dissatisfaction with his unjustified absence clear.

As an administrative punishment, the player took a severe pay cut equivalent to one month’s salary, in addition to remaining subject to further fines under the club’s internal regulations.

But the refusal to terminate the contract is based on a technical risk assessment. Legally, dismissal for cause was weakened by the player’s return before the 30-day period that characterizes job abandonment, which could drag the club into a costly and uncertain legal dispute.

Without completing 30 consecutive days of disappearance, Arboleda has grounds—especially before FIFA—not only to secure a legal win over São Paulo, but also to claim compensation. “People only look at Brazilian labor laws, but forget that this is an international case,” said a club source.

On the other hand, a mutual termination was ruled out because it was considered a strategic contradiction: besides generating no financial compensation, it would allow the defender to strengthen direct rivals at no cost, turning an act of indiscipline into a direct benefit for the offender.

“He never hid that his goal was to leave São Paulo. Obviously, there is no atmosphere for him to stay. But authorizing his departure as if nothing had happened, besides fulfilling his wish, would create a dangerous precedent for other players who want to do the same. There is still one year left on his contract. And São Paulo cannot afford that luxury,” the source said.

AMT had previously revealed that the Morumbi club was well aware that there were teams interested in Arboleda just waiting for his contract to be terminated so they could sign him.

Given this scenario, São Paulo has adopted a productive isolation for the player. Arboleda will undergo a full battery of medical exams and performance tests to assess the impact of his period of inactivity, followed by an individualized physical reconditioning program.

First and foremost, this is a measure meant to show interested clubs that the center-back is in full condition to be transferred. “This is a stage of physical and disciplinary recovery, whose ultimate goal is to keep the player market-ready so that he can be transferred or included in swap deals as soon as the next transfer window opens,” summarized a source consulted by AMT.

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