Why São Paulo's board want to extend Luiz Gustavo's contract | OneFootball

The São Paulo board views the contract renewal of Luiz Gustavo favorably. The current contract of the experienced midfielder ends at the end of this year, but internally there is a conclusion that he can continue to contribute both on and off the field, despite his advanced age.

Luiz Gustavo missed almost the entire season due to a serious health issue that was not related to any physical limitation associated with age. The player discovered a pulmonary thromboembolism and was forced to stay away from the pitch for six long months.

Recovered from the serious health problem, the 38-year-old player, with stints at Bayern Munich and the Brazilian National Team, showed that age is just a number. Even after being out of action for so long, Luiz Gustavo needed very few games to regain his high level and be useful to coach Hernán Crespo.

But Luiz Gustavo's usefulness goes far beyond the pitch. The tricolor board understands that the midfielder is also a reference for the younger players due to his conduct. Even with a successful career, the 38-year-old player does not give up on daily hard work, leading by example.

The idea is for Luiz Gustavo to be what Rafinha was for the São Paulo squad before leaving the club. The presence of a successful athlete, with experience and a significant career, can be fundamental for the development of young athletes promoted to the professional level.

The trend, in fact, is that São Paulo will rely even more on players coming from Cotia next season, as the club will not have a significant budget for signings, focusing on debt repayment and financial restructuring.

Although the board is inclined to offer Luiz Gustavo another year of contract, the parties will only discuss it at the end of the season. However, the current feeling is that the midfielder will remain at Morumbi in 2026.

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