So, why does Massis keep Rui Costa as São Paulo executive? | OneFootball

São Paulo has at least one thing defined: Rui Costa and Rafinha will remain the directors in charge of professional football. At least for now…

That was the conclusion reached on the morning of this Thursday (14) by president Harry Massis in a virtual meeting with the two.

As AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR revealed, the pressure on the São Paulo president to fire especially the football executive was enormous behind the scenes. Influential club members, board members, and even people within the administration pressured Massis to make changes in charge at Barra Funda.

The suggestion, so to speak, was turned down for a few reasons. To political allies, the president listed some of the difficulties that would be faced if Costa were dismissed.

According to the explanations, the executive is handling some negotiations, both involving São Paulo players who could be sold and potential reinforcements being targeted for signing.

There are also talks to renew some contracts, in the cases of Calleri and Lucas.

In other words, removing Costa at this moment could leave things back at square one.

That is not the only issue. Costa is the one who will lead the negotiations to hire the new head coach, replacing Roger Machado, who was fired after the humiliating elimination from the Copa do Brasil against Juventude. The executive is even in Florianópolis (SC), where he will speak with Dorival Júnior.

Massis’s internal assessment is that any structural change in the football department should happen only during the break for the World Cup, when a possible replacement for Costa would arrive with time to settle in.

Names suggested by people close to him, some of them employees, did not excite the president, who, just as he did with Roger Machado, is also holding back because of the termination fee, around R$1.5 million. And just like Roger, perhaps the outcome could end up being the same…

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