Mailton unveiled by São Paulo, hails move to Tricolor: "A dream come true" | OneFootball

São Paulo officially presented right-back Mailton this Wednesday at SuperCT. The 27-year-old player, formerly of Chapecoense, celebrated joining the club and highlighted the opportunity to play in the Copa Libertadores.

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to be here. It’s the realization of a dream, both for me and for my wife and my family. This joy will last from beginning to end. I am very happy and fulfilled with the chance to play in a Copa Libertadores. That’s the joy that motivates me,” said Mailton.

“When it comes to São Paulo, you can’t even hesitate. From the very first moment, I made it very clear that I wanted to come. I never had any doubts about my choice. There were other inquiries, but this was the most concrete and I made it clear my wish was to be here,” he added.

Mailton, the new number 22, signed a contract with Tricolor Paulista valid until the end of 2027. The player arrives to compete for a spot with Portuguese player Cédric Soares, the undisputed starter in Hernán Crespo’s team.

“Competing for a position with Cédric, who was playing in Europe until last year, competing in the Champions League, has been a daily learning experience. It’s about making the most of every moment, every opportunity, and trying to write my own story here at São Paulo,” he said.

Offensive full-back

In 2025, playing for Chapecoense, Mailton stood out for his attacking contributions. In 30 matches, he scored seven goals and provided nine assists. He was also the team’s top scorer for the season and the leader in direct goal involvements.

“I am a more offensive full-back. Cédric, because of his experience, is very good at building up play and also gets forward well. I’m more offensive; if you let me, I’ll run for 90 minutes. I don’t like to lose at anything, not even rock-paper-scissors. I’m very determined and a player who always seeks victory. I’ll continue what I was doing at Chape: providing options up front and defending when needed. If they choose me, I’ll try to make the best play, give an assist, and score a goal,” he analyzed.

Now officially registered, the right-back is available to coach Hernán Crespo to make his debut in the São Paulo shirt. Tricolor returns to the field this Sunday, against Botafogo, at Morumbis.

São Paulo’s Schedule

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