São Paulo bring back African midfielder for 2026 campaign | OneFootball

As it makes changes to its football management and is already openly talking about a squad overhaul for next season, São Paulo already has at least one internal decision made for 2026.

According to information gathered by AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR from sources within São Paulo’s football leadership, coach Hernán Crespo has been informed that midfielder Iba Ly will be reintegrated into the squad in January, when his loan to Retrô, the Pernambuco team that was relegated from Série C of the Brazilian Championship, comes to an end.

Senegalese, Ly joined the Morumbi club’s youth system in 2023, arriving with three other players from the African continent. He was the only one who ‘survived’ and ended up getting a chance with the first team, being named in the squad for a 2024 Paulista Championship match by coach Thiago Carpini.

This was a historic achievement, as it made Ly the first (and only) athlete from all of Africa to be part of the Tricolor’s squad in an official competition.

Despite the attention, however, the player soon lost his place and, after spending much of last year sidelined after exceeding the age limit for the under-20 squad, he ended up being loaned out this season, first to Inter de Limeira, then to the Pernambuco club.

In total, Ly played 25 matches this season, seven of them for the São Paulo team in the State Championship and the rest for Retrô. Despite the team’s poor campaign in the third division, the impression is that he stood out. Fans’ comments online praised his performances, and São Paulo itself, in an internal report obtained by AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR, noted the midfielder’s development. That’s the reason for his reintegration.

There is also a financial aspect. The Senegalese received offers from Série B teams such as Goiás, Coritiba, and Athletico-PR, all interested in taking him on loan, which shows some hope that, playing for Tricolor, he could bring in some much-needed cash for the club’s struggling finances.

The role of defensive midfielder, specifically, is not one of the most lacking in the São Paulo squad. Currently, Pablo Maia, Luiz Gustavo, Luan, and Negrucci play that more defensive midfield role, with Bobadilla and Alisson often deployed in the position. The news of Ly’s reintegration is an indication of departures from the squad that are expected to occur at the Morumbi club for financial reasons in 2026.

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