Calleri stands firm, demands eased and São Paulo deal nears | OneFootball

Negotiations between São Paulo and striker Jonathan Calleri over a contract renewal have made significant progress in recent days.

After months of deadlock, the alignment of expectations between the board and the player’s representatives has increased internal optimism for a favorable outcome.

The Argentine’s contract expires at the end of this year, which already allows him to sign a pre-contract with any other team. Given this scenario, both sides have softened their demands to move the talks forward.

According to what AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR has learned, Calleri was upset by reports in the press about possible salary and bonus demands and put his foot down to extend his deal with the Morumbi club.

This is not a new situation. In the last renewal, in 2023, the center-forward also stepped into talks involving his staff, insisting on renewing with São Paulo even with more financially attractive offers from outside Tricolor.

Flexibility and Financial Context

The talks had been dragging on since the start of the season, when the football department was still run by executive Rui Costa. At the time, the player’s initial demands and the club’s offers showed a substantial gap:

According to the outlet ‘Globo Esporte,’ Calleri’s staff asked for US$1.8 million (approximately R$9.2 million) in a signing bonus, monthly wages of R$1.7 million, plus the repayment in 12 installments of a debt of around R$7 million accumulated by the club, in addition to bonuses tied to sporting targets.

The previous administration reduced the proposed fixed amounts while keeping the performance-based bonus structure, a model the player did not accept.

After changes in São Paulo’s football management, a new offer was presented and, although initially considered insufficient by the striker’s agents, it served as a starting point for both sides to give ground on their financial positions.

Leadership and History at Tricolor

At 32, Calleri is internally regarded as one of the squad’s main leaders and has a strong connection with the fans. However, his age led the board to take a cautious budgetary approach in negotiations for a long-term deal.

In his second spell at Morumbi — the first was in 2016 — the center-forward is in his sixth straight season at the club. The Argentine has made 256 appearances, scored 91 goals, and won the 2023 Copa do Brasil and the 2024 Supercopa Rei.

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