Sabino factor: São Paulo weigh up free agent to replace Domingos Duarte | OneFootball

São Paulo is taking a preliminary look at signing a free-agent center-back after Domingos Duarte’s serious injury, but the club’s board and coaching staff are pessimistic about bringing in a reinforcement. That is why the inspiration comes from Sabino, signed in 2024 when he was unemployed after terminating his contract with Sport.

With the transfer window closed, Tricolor can only register players who were without a contract before the registration period ended. The combination of the regulatory restriction, the club’s financial reality, and the need for a player who is match-fit makes the task extremely complex.

To make matters worse, time is running out: the club has until next October 7 (Wednesday), the final deadline for registrations in the Brazilian Championship, to sign an option.

Names are already being discussed. The main one is Ricardo Graça. At 29, he had already been offered to Tricolor in June, but was eventually turned down.

The Brazilian defender, who previously played for Vasco da Gama and was active in Japanese football until December last year, is currently unattached and available on the transfer market.

Graça gained prominence in Brazilian football in 2020, when he was part of Brazil’s Olympic gold medal-winning squad at the Tokyo Games. Left-footed and standing 1.82 meters tall, he can also play at left-back.

The problem is the time out of action. Graça has not played professionally since December 7 last year, when he struggled in the promotion playoffs to the J.League top flight while playing for Júbilo Iwata.

The terms of the deal, with Graça even willing to accept a risk-based contract (along the lines of the one São Paulo initially gave Sabino), appealed to Tricolor’s directors.

Assessment of the Defensive Unit

Serious Injury to Domingos Duarte: The Portuguese center-back tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the win over Internacional, underwent surgery at Albert Einstein Hospital, and will only return to the pitch in 2027. He had made just nine appearances for the club.

Remaining Natural Options: The coaching staff led by Dorival Júnior currently have only Arboleda, Rafael Tolói, Sabino (who is also dealing with fatigue and medical evaluation), and Osorio.

Absence on the Flank: Aurélio Buta, who could help make up the unit in a back three, underwent surgery on the meniscus in his right knee and is sidelined.

In-House Alternatives for the FIFA International Break

Given the limitations of the external market, the coaching staff’s priority is to find solutions within the squad itself for the derby against Santos on October 2 at Morumbi:

Newton as a Makeshift Option: The defensive midfielder is emerging as an alternative to play as the right-sided center-back in a back three, once he is cleared from treatment for a knock to his right thigh.

Promotion of Isac: The young center-back from São Paulo’s academy will be monitored during training over the FIFA international break and could be permanently integrated into the senior squad.

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