SDC Sports ‘plan talks’ with Neymar as Santos await binding SAF offer | OneFootball

US-based SDC Sports, also known as Saint-Dominique Capital, say their five-month due diligence on Santos is complete, and the club await a binding offer to advance a sale of its SAF.

"Neymar means a lot to this club and to football. Right now his focus is on leading the team. Any wider role is a conversation for the right moment," said SDC sporting director Jesse Fioranelli, speaking to Valor Econômico's Pipeline.

"If we do this the right way, we believe we can support Santos in the long term, not just now." Neymar is contracted until 31 December.

"It is one of world football’s most traditional clubs, the club that gave Pelé to the sport and shaped early careers like Neymar and Rodrygo. That history, the brand, the academy and the fans give Santos a base to compete at the highest level, if the right structure is behind it," said SDC managing partner Michael Lipman.

"We assessed opportunities in Brazil and abroad. What set Santos apart was history, an academy leading for generations, and a fanbase that matters commercially and culturally at home and internationally. Very few clubs have all three," said Lipman.

The club also ran an initial check on the investor’s capacity. In February a non-binding offer worth one billion reais plus full assumption of debts estimated at one billion reais, for 80% control, was approved to start diligence. To accept any binding bid, Santos must reform its statute to permit a majority sale, then members must ratify the changes at a General Assembly.

Source: Globo.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”