Santos agree Arboleda deal, offer Zé Rafael to avoid São Paulo fee | OneFootball

After reaching an agreement with Arboleda, Santos’ board is now working behind the scenes to reach a deal with São Paulo to secure the release of the 34-year-old center-back and complete his signing.

As AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR reported, the Morumbi club has already decided it will release the player upon payment of a US$ 1 million debt (around R$ 6 million) it owes the Ecuadorian’s agent, Pepe Chamurro, related to commissions from the player’s latest contract renewal.

However, Santos has no intention of paying anything. On the contrary, it wants to take advantage of the opportunity to try to offload some players from its squad who are no longer part of the club’s plans.

The report learned from sources in São Paulo’s top brass at least one of the names on a list sent by the coastal rival: Zé Rafael. The 32-year-old veteran defensive midfielder, known for his spell at Palmeiras, has declined this season and is looking for an interested club to leave Vila Belmiro.

Well, São Paulo will not be the club to open its doors to the player. AMT has learned that São Paulo’s board has already informed Santos that it has no interest in this kind of deal. And that the condition for Arboleda’s release has already been agreed, including with Chamurro himself.

PACKED AND READY TO GO

Out of the club’s plans since he walked out on Tricolor and disappeared for a month, the 34-year-old Ecuadorian has been offered to the coastal rival for about 15 days. At first, they turned down the “offer.” But in recent days they resumed talks with the player’s camp.

The report found that coach Cuca approves of the Ecuadorian defender’s profile and views a possible signing favorably. Experienced and with a wealth of experience in Brazilian football, Arboleda has characteristics considered important to strengthen Santos’ defensive system throughout the season.

According to what AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR learned from sources in São Paulo’s upper management, Arboleda has no real chance of staying at Morumbi, as some fans had hoped after the absences in defense and Dória’s departure forced coach Dorival Júnior to use youth players such as Osório.

The final nail in the coffin came when the player took legal action against the club demanding his immediate reinstatement to the squad.

Some journalists who cover São Paulo on a daily basis even claimed that the center-back would be reinstated at Dorival’s request, but the football department no longer accepts working with the player. There is also resistance from the squad’s leaders.

Arboleda has been receiving inquiries from several clubs in Brazil and abroad, but none of them developed into a concrete permanent transfer offer. The only bid came from Vitória, which wanted him on loan until the end of the season, something that Tricolor turned down.

Since joining Tricolor in 2017, Arboleda has established himself as one of the team’s main defensive pillars, collecting titles, call-ups to the Ecuador national team, and a bond with part of the fanbase. Despite the less favorable moment, a possible departure is not ruled out, as long as it brings sporting or financial return to the club.

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