Investor playboy shunned by CBF, sparks Fifa probe at São Paulo | OneFootball

Main hope for better days for many São Paulo fans, Diego Fernandes was the subject of a revealing report by ‘ESPN‘ about his role as intermediary in the negotiation to hire Carlo Ancelotti as the new coach of the Brazilian National Team by the CBF.

The news comes a day after the investor gave two interviews in which he discussed more about his plans for his beloved team, amid all the commotion caused on social media among São Paulo fans and the information that has surfaced with his name since November, when he practically became a public figure at Morumbi.

According to ‘ESPN‘, Fernandes was never directly linked to football until the successful case with Ancelotti. As CEO of 08 Partners, he met players to whom he provided services in the financial market. His connections among athletes made him a regular presence behind the scenes of the national team, which he has frequented basically since the 2022 World Cup, held in Qatar during Ednaldo Rodrigues’ administration.

It was with the former CBF president that the businessman reached a new level. Between a new attempt to bring Ancelotti from Europe and the struggle to avoid leaving the organization, Rodrigues received recommendations from players and close associates for the name of Diego Fernandes, who would act in the negotiation as representative and intermediary. And so it was done, but with some reservations.

Fernandes took the opportunity to present himself as the “agent who brought Ancelotti to the national team.” To reinforce this image, he hired communication agencies in Europe and Brazil, whose job was to promote his image alongside the Italian coach. Photos of him with Ancelotti were widely publicized, from the departure in Madrid to the arrival in Rio de Janeiro and the presentation at the CBF headquarters.

“I have many friends in football, great players who are clients at the bank where I provide services. When I was invited, I saw it as an opportunity as a Brazilian, to help the national team have a better coach who could contribute to the history of football,” said the businessman.

The problem, in this case, is that he is not and never has been licensed by FIFA to perform such a function. Fernandes signed a contract with the CBF to be cited as the official representative in negotiations with Ancelotti. In exchange for the service, he would be entitled to a commission of 1.2 million euros, equivalent to R$ 7.7 million at the time the agreement was made. He would also be entitled to receive R$ 1 million in reimbursement for having paid for the rental of the plane used by the coach.

However, during the negotiations, control of the CBF changed hands. Ednaldo left, Samir Xaud took over, and from the start he showed discomfort with Diego Fernandes’ behavior behind the scenes. The businessman’s presence was even ignored by the new management, which, when hearing complaints from the agent, stated that he could dispute the contract in legal forums if he wished.

Fernandes did not pursue legal action, but FIFA intervened by notifying the CBF about the commission to which the intermediary would be entitled. Since he was not a licensed agent by the entity, he could not receive money for providing the service. And more than that: the CBF could be punished by football’s governing body if it made any payment—considered improper—to Diego.

And it wasn’t just Fernandes’ statements that proved fragile and outside the rules of the football business world. The contract established between him and president Ednaldo did not contain the signature of the CBF’s financial board, as required by the entity’s Statute, and was nullified amid the controversies.

The confederation redid the agreement, never had to pay him, and removed the so-called “agent who brought Ancelotti” from the scene. Something he complained about publicly.

“I know a lot of people say I ‘want to show off,’ but it’s not like that. Last year, no one said anything when I handed out Brazilian national team shirts. This year, I wanted to do it with São Paulo shirts. Many people didn’t believe in the Ancelotti negotiation. I always believed from the start. I even put my own money in—and they haven’t even paid me yet,” he said to the portal.

With no further ties to the CBF, which has no interest in involving him in future projects, Diego Fernandes changed his focus. In recent months, he has started handing out São Paulo shirts to sports figures, ranging from Formula 1 drivers—an area where he has easy access—to former players (like Ronaldinho Gaúcho). Through former striker Muller, a São Paulo idol and now commentator, he even promised a surprise for fans next Tuesday (16th), without revealing what it is.

The new goal is to try to enter the difficult politics of Morumbi, whose electoral process is one of the most closed in the country. Diego Fernandes even met with tricolor councilors to present ideas for the future, claimed to have investors ready to inject money into the club, but demanded counterparts.

“Both international investors and traditional São Paulo families want to invest in the club. But what is non-negotiable? São Paulo needs to modernize its statute, and we need to work on transforming the club into an SAF,” said the businessman in an interview with ‘UOL‘ this Thursday.

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