São Paulo rely on player sales, Morumbi for 2026 profit: see figures | OneFootball

The São Paulo budget proposal for 2026, which begins to be voted on by the Deliberative Council on the night of this Wednesday (17), reveals that for yet another year, the Julio Casares administration is betting on the sale of youth or professional players and revenues from the Morumbi stadium, whether from ticket sales or concerts, as pillars to end the year with a profit.

According to the figures obtained by AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR, the São Paulo board's plan is to close next year with a projected surplus of R$ 37.9 million, with total revenues of R$ 931.8 million and estimated expenses of R$ 893.8 million.

This number may be considered modest. Rival Palmeiras, for example, estimated in its budget plan, approved on Tuesday (16), a profit of over R$ 2 billion.

As has become routine in the Casares administration, the club's revenues are basically supported by player negotiations and its stadium.

The budget points to R$ 121.9 million coming from the Morumbi stadium, including ticket sales, events, and other forms of commercial exploitation.

Professional football remains the club's main financial pillar, with projected revenues of R$ 487.1 million. Within this amount, R$ 180.6 million are directly tied to player negotiations.

The budget also includes R$ 525,000 in general administration revenues and R$ 4.2 million in financial revenues. The social club is expected to raise R$ 80.2 million, while marketing appears as one of the main sources, with an estimated R$ 237.7 million, driven by sponsorships, advertising, and commercial contracts.

On the expense side, the club projects R$ 787.6 million in operational costs in 2026. The largest share is concentrated in professional football, with projected expenses of R$ 542.2 million, which include salaries, bonuses, logistics, and operational costs of the main squad. The youth football division is expected to spend R$ 58.9 million throughout the year.

General administration accounts for R$ 15.2 million, while the financial and controlling departments total R$ 4.8 million. The legal and compliance departments appear with R$ 7.2 million, and the administrative department, with R$ 12.1 million.

Other areas also have significant weight in the budget. The infrastructure department is projected to have R$ 9.9 million in expenses, the Morumbi stadium should consume R$ 32.7 million, and the social club, R$ 71.2 million. Marketing appears with R$ 26.9 million, and the communications department, with R$ 6.1 million.

In addition to operational expenses, São Paulo also estimates R$ 106.2 million in financial expenses, related to interest, charges, and debt commitments.

See below the complete figures of the proposal for 2026:

Image: Anotações Tricolores

CONTROVERSY

The atmosphere heated up at the São Paulo Deliberative Council meeting on the night of this Wednesday (17). A group of fans, probably members of organized supporter groups, staged a protest at the entrance gate to the Morumbi’s main hall and even tried to invade the venue, requiring the intervention of the club’s security staff. The Military Police were called in to help contain the protesters.

This evening’s meeting was scheduled for council members to vote on São Paulo’s budget plan for 2026. But it was clear that echoes of the Skybox Scandal were expected.

Two directors from the Julio Casares administration, Douglas Schwartzmann, then responsible for the club’s youth divisions, and Mara Casares, the president’s ex-wife and director of culture and events, ended up being removed for their involvement in a controversy over the transfer of a space in the stadium for a concert by Colombian singer Shakira in March.

Both were reported to the Council’s Ethics Committee by the committee’s president, Olten Ayres de Abreu.

The Council meeting was awaited for demonstrations by the unified opposition bloc, which has been gaining strength as the Casares administration faces increasing wear, and promises of ‘side-switching’ by former allies of the president dissatisfied with recent corruption cases reported by the press.

Moreover, taking advantage of the general support from the fans, the opposition promised to make it quite difficult to approve the accounts and targets for next year suggested by the current administration.

Another controversial topic to be raised by Casares and his allies at the meeting are the statutory changes planned by the governing group in a damage-control meeting held on Tuesday (16). The São Paulo president wants to facilitate the approval of transforming São Paulo into a SAF (Sociedade Anônima do Futebol), loosening the voting requirements for this, as well as officially separating football (professional and youth) from the social club once and for all.

This evening’s meeting includes only the Council leadership at the club. The participation and virtual voting of members was allowed. As a result of the protest, Abreu has already informed the council members that the meeting will be shorter than planned, citing security reasons.

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