The billionaires bankrolling Brazil’s SAF revolution | OneFootball

Billionaire entrepreneurs are consolidating control of Brazilian clubs’ SAF structures, injecting capital and underwriting debts worth billions of reais. Figures such as Rubens Menin, Pedro Lourenço and Marcos Lamacchia headline the shift.

According to Globo.com, Pedro Lourenço, 70, bought 90% of Cruzeiro’s SAF for about R$ 600 million via staged payments and debt conversion after years financing the club. Cruzeiro have since spent more than R$ 300 million on signings this season.

Engineer Rubens Menin, also 70, holds 41.8% of Atlético-MG’s SAF after the four R’s acquired 75% for roughly R$ 913 million. A further R$ 500 million is planned this year to attack debts totalling R$ 1.8 billion.

Marcos Lamacchia, 47, is negotiating control of Vasco da Gama’s SAF. His proposal exceeds R$ 3 billion, including R$ 500 million for football, R$ 150 million for the training centre, an R$ 80 million loan write-off, settlement of about R$ 1.3 billion in debts, and coverage of five years of cash deficits. He has already provided loans.

Roberto Graziano bought Guarani’s Brinco de Ouro at auction for R$ 44 million and now leads a bid for the club’s SAF. The council is weighing a R$ 750 million package, potentially rising to R$ 1.075 billion.

Marcelo Marques paid R$ 145 million for Grêmio’s arena operation and assumed two thirds of construction debt, then returned control to the club. Delcir Sonda donated R$ 20 million to Internacional, and former Palmeiras president Paulo Nobre lent the club over R$ 100 million and has been repaid. Inter de Limeira’s SAF is set to sell 80% to a group including Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos, with investments projected up to R$ 454 million across 10 years.

Source: Globo.com

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