Crespo calls for renewal, Luiz Gustavo to leave São Paulo in 2026 | OneFootball

If it depends on coach Hernán Crespo’s wishes, Luiz Gustavo will remain a São Paulo player in 2026.

AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR has learned that despite the internal antipathy from the board towards the veteran midfielder—due to his statements on the Maracanã pitch after the 6-0 defeat to Fluminense—the Argentine manager remains one of the player’s biggest supporters, seeing him as a positive leader both on and off the field for the squad.

Crespo is not expected to have an easy time convincing not only the board, but also Luiz Gustavo himself, to renew the contract that runs until the end of the year.

According to information initially reported by the portal ‘Globo Esporte‘, Luiz Gustavo, even at 38 years old and recovered from a pulmonary thromboembolism that kept him off the pitch for six months, has decided to continue his career. With 59 matches and six goals for Tricolor, the midfielder wants to seek a new destination.

The board shares the same opinion, aiming to rejuvenate the squad and save money. And since Luiz Gustavo’s contract is ending, it’s a matter of making the most of the situation. The internal plan is for the club to use young players from the roster for the position, such as Negrucci and Hugo Leonardo—the latter having spent the year recovering from surgery.

The report found that Luiz Gustavo wants a change of scenery, worn out by the situation at São Paulo. His outburst on the field, although supported by the rest of the squad, was a clear sign of exhaustion from what the club went through this year.

The board noticed the change in the player’s attitude. That’s because, right after his health issue, Luiz Gustavo talked about renewing for at least another three months due to the affection he received from the fans. Things started to sour when the CBF changed the calendar and scheduled the start of the next Brazilian Championship for January. The board said they would only renew his contract for another full season, but the player backed away from his initial plans.

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