Marcos Leonardo pushes for São Paulo move, deal down to one factor | OneFootball

The forward was the top scorer of the FIFA Club World Cup and would fit perfectly in the Tricolor (Photo: Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

MARCIO MONTEIRO

@avantmtricolor

Nothing like one day after another in football. After initial talks between São Paulo and forward Marcos Leonardo didn't generate much excitement, the signing progressed in the last hours of this Sunday (31) and the dream is becoming increasingly closer to reality.

The agreement for the loan until the end of the year only depends on a few details to be accepted by Al Hilal, the current club of the Brazilian top scorer.

Everything is aligning to help the Tricolor finally secure their coveted number 9 to compensate for the loss of three injured players – André Silva, Ryan Francisco, and Calleri. The Saudi club couldn't make room in the list of eight foreign players and didn't register Marcos Leonardo in the country's league.

TRICOLOR HEART SPOKE LOUDER

The 22-year-old has never hidden being a São Paulo fan in his childhood, and his heart weighed in. Aware of the negotiations, he stood firm and showed great interest in wearing the Tricolor jersey, also considering the great possibility of being called back to the Brazilian National Team, in the final stretch of preparation for the 2026 World Cup. His name has been linked to other national and European clubs interested in the player.

The player gave up a significant part of his earnings to make the deal happen, and Al Hilal is already aware and in agreement with the financial aspects of the negotiation, with only a few details of the transaction remaining to be confirmed to São Paulo by the Arab team.

With three days left until the transfer window closes, the Tricolor was already pessimistic about securing a replacement for the attack after initial failed attempts with Marcelo Ryan, Pedro Rocha, and Marcos Leonardo himself, before the turnaround in the case.

Leonardo has been standing out in the 'Arab world'. He was one of the highlights of Al Hilal's campaign in the Club World Cup and finished as the tournament's top scorer, with four goals in five games. For the club, he has 49 matches, 29 goals, and three assists in total. He was signed for a hefty sum from Benfica in September 2024, for 40 million euros, with a contract until June 2029.

He would come to São Paulo to solve everyone's problem: the Tricolor, which needs a center forward, the player who needs to play to be remembered by Carlo Ancelotti, and Al Hilal, which couldn't register the star and doesn't lose the visibility of its asset in the market.

São Paulo is in the market for a center forward after confirming André Silva's serious injury, who might only return to play next year.

Without him and two other options (Calleri and Ryan Francisco, who are also in Reffis), Hernán Crespo has to field the attack with the natural center forward, the compatriot Dinneno, a name that came from Cruzeiro when the coach was still Luis Zubeldía, who even recommended him to the Tricolor (a fact that might contribute to his limited use under the new manager).

Besides Dinneno, players can be improvised, such as wingers Ferreirinha and Tapia, as well as Luciano, who can perform roles like a false 9.

With a spending cap and budget limit, the Tricolor is struggling to go to the market for a name to reinforce their ranks. The option is for someone free in the market or arriving on loan. Time is of the essence, as the transfer window closes on September 2.

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