Massis leaks ‘note’ to journalists, unveils Rui Costa-Roger ticket | OneFootball

It may seem unbelievable, but the crisis that erupted at São Paulo, with the relationship between the fans and the duo Rui Costa and Roger Machado reaching its limit, generated, let’s say, unexpected results.

São Paulo fans woke up this Thursday (23) to a letter published by some media outlets and journalists who cover the club. It was not something produced specifically for the press, as was reported, but merely a draft for that purpose. And it ended up being deliberately (and premeditatedly) leaked to a select few.

Its content states primarily that president Harry Massis Júnior met with a group of board members and made the final call on the issue of Costa and Roger staying, initially securing internal peace among his peers so the duo could continue working at Morumbi.

For those who can read between the lines, a few words are enough: Massis makes it clear that, for now, the choice of a political name to work in football — something he himself had been pressured internally to do — is off the table.

The fact is: more than the unconditional support for Costa and Roger — which, let’s be honest, is about as safe and guaranteed as a sheet hanging on a clothesline without clothespins on a windy, stormy day — the text reveals more than that. Let’s look at it first:

“We met with leaders of the Nova União group, which represents more than 180 board members of the institution. We understand that this moment calls for unity among all São Paulo supporters so that, together, we can achieve the results we expect. It is very important to have the fans by our side, as they are our great fuel in the fight for what is best for the institution. We want to reinforce that Rui Costa and Roger Machado have the support and confidence of the administration and of our entire coalition within the club.”

A quick reading reveals the obvious. In a moment of institutional crisis, it is already risky in itself for the club president to communicate in a, let’s say, less-than-convincing way. A draft of an official statement, without the endorsement of the club’s communications department, distributed to only a few outlets, does not necessarily bring the credibility needed to calm things down as it should.

But truth be told, Massis doesn’t need it. Because the answer is in the text itself. It reveals a detail as curious as it is enlightening. By saying he gathered 180 board members, the president sent a clear signal: he has built his base to run for re-election at the end of the year.

At a time of constant signs of dissatisfaction in the one place that matters (to them), the Board, Massis secures yet another political victory. A month ago, the president suffered a major defeat when last year’s financial statements were rejected. Since then, he has climbed step by step. He approved the contract renewal with New Balance, officially launched his re-election bid... To please his base, especially those previously linked to his predecessor Julio Casares — who now faces the risk of being expelled from the club — he moved to push away people he had brought in as allies, such as opposition figure Flávio Marques, who was leading a plan of economic restructuring and austerity.

The text reveals that the decision has been made. And if governability once seemed plausibly at risk after the defeat over the approval of the financial statements, the president now appears to have turned things around. Including with a new name. What was a coalition in Casares’s time (the term is even mentioned in the statement) is now called Nova União. A clear sign of the political unity that has been achieved.

As in the Casares years, amid the chaos, with fans eager for structural changes, Massis is signaling that the modus operandi remains the same old one at São Paulo.

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