Now it's on: Oscar and São Paulo agree on contract exit | OneFootball

São Paulo and Oscar appear close to officially terminating the attacking midfielder’s contract, in negotiations that have progressed over the past few weeks and would now depend only on signatures to be finalized.

AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR has learned that the agreement provides for the player to receive around R$10 million, a figure far lower than the R$60 million expected through December 2027, when his contract would have expired.

The difference is explained by the player’s own decision to give up a significant part of what he would have been entitled to receive, opting to consider only the period up to November of last year, when he suffered a sudden medical episode during tests at the Barra Funda training center, later diagnosed as vasovagal syncope.

From that episode onward, which led him to end his career, talks moved toward a negotiated resolution.

THE CASE

One of the most discussed issues by São Paulo’s new president, Harry Massis Júnior, with the professional football staff was the progress of negotiations to terminate attacking midfielder Oscar’s contract. He did not report back for this season and has only not officially announced his retirement yet because he has not reached an agreement with the Morumbi club over the amounts he is still owed under a contract that runs until the end of 2027.

According to what AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR has learned, Massis wants the process to move faster. When he received São Paulo’s financial statements from CEO Márcio Carlomagno, the president and his allies noted that defining how much Oscar will cost the club each month is essential to determine how much cash flow will be consumed and how much the club will be able to invest in the squad for the rest of the year.

Massis’ pressure falls mainly on the legal and financial departments, since the long-running saga over the former No. 8’s termination seems far from a conclusion. In fact, at this moment the two sides still disagree on the matter.

AMT has already revealed that, according to Oscar and his camp’s calculations, São Paulo owes him approximately R$62 million, including portions of salary, image rights, and signing bonuses.

In at least three meetings held since December, all while Tricolor was still chaired by Julio Casares, Oscar showed himself willing to split the amount into more than 24 monthly installments. But the Morumbi club disputed the figure. Since then, the legal and financial departments have been combing through the contract and the accounts to verify whether or not that amount is correct.

The midfielder’s lawyers argue that Casares may have acknowledged the debt when he suggested that Oscar receive the installments as salary in a possible internship as a manager in Cotia. Oscar wants to remain in football after retirement, and it would be a way to stay at São Paulo while preparing for the new role.

The opening created by the former president, however, was ignored at the request of the former No. 8, who does not want fights or conflict and accepted the deadline for the internal audit to get São Paulo’s response.

In fact, also on Oscar’s instructions to his lawyers, there is so far a consensus between the parties that the attacking midfielder and the club will simply terminate the contract amicably, that is, without either side paying a penalty. And that he will waive what he would have been entitled to receive from this month onward for the remainder of the deal.

FAMILY PRESSURE

The decision to hang up his boots came from Oscar after he suffered vasovagal syncope on November 11.

At first, Oscar would return to work only when the squad reported back for the 2026 preseason. But São Paulo’s board maintains its position of leaving the decision of when and how to return to training in his hands.

It would also give more time for the No. 8 to decide whether or not to retire, as his family wants.

Oscar was hospitalized in a hospital in the west side of São Paulo after experiencing a medical complication with cardiac changes during tests carried out at the Barra Funda training center. Oscar even fainted and lost consciousness during a physical evaluation activity.

An extensive investigation carried out at the hospital confirmed that the player suffered an episode of vasovagal syncope. Stable and clinically well throughout his stay in hospital, the athlete is following a medical rest program over the next few days.

After the scare, there is a consensus within Tricolor that there is no rush or pressure of any kind for the midfielder’s return. Oscar will stay away from training for as long as he feels necessary and will have the club’s full support in his decision.

The same applies to the future. São Paulo officials have not brought up the subject of ending his career with the No. 8 at any time. Officially or not, the stance is the same: Oscar has a contract until the end of 2027, the priority now is his recovery, not only physically but emotionally, and the decision is strictly personal.

From São Paulo’s side, the order is to keep things contractually as they are, with no changes to clauses or figures.

“He still has two more years on his contract and we will give him as much time as necessary for his recovery and for him to think about what is best for him. The important thing is that it was nothing serious and he is already back with his family. Our priority is to see him well. There are not even grounds for any discussion beyond that. Above all, we respect what Oscar means and his importance to São Paulo,” a source from the top of São Paulo’s football department told AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR, asking not to be identified.

Signed at the start of the season, Oscar has two goals and five assists in the 21 matches he played for São Paulo. Sources close to the player consulted by the report say that his family wants him to hang up his boots. But the subject has not been discussed again since he was discharged, partly so as not to pressure him.

THE CONDITION

Vasovagal syncope is a common fainting episode caused by an exaggerated reaction of the vagus nerve to a trigger, such as standing for too long, emotional stress, seeing blood, physical exertion, or feeling overheated. This causes a temporary drop in heart rate and blood pressure, resulting in loss of consciousness. Warning signs may include weakness, paleness, sweating, dizziness, and nausea.

Usually considered a condition that is easy to treat, doctors prescribe lifestyle changes such as better hydration, reducing salt intake, avoiding going too long without meals, avoiding emotional triggers, and even wearing compression socks to help blood circulation. Medication is given only in severe cases.

The worrying side of it, speaking from the professional standpoint of Oscar, is that there is a medical recommendation not to remain standing for long periods during the recovery period. In other words, plainly put, the midfielder would be barred from training or practicing his profession for a period after being discharged.

“Obviously I don’t know the case in depth, but from a distance, given Oscar’s profession, what is recommended is prolonged rest mixed with short periods of physical activity in the first few months. But more detailed tests would be needed to know whether circulation is affected,” cardiologist Ricardo Neves, a professor at the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul and a member of the South Mato Grosso Academy of Medicine, told AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR.

In the bulletin released by the Morumbi club, it is stated that Oscar will undergo an electrophysiological study. Neves explains that the result will be decisive in determining whether or not the player can return to physical activity in a short period of time.

“This is not associated with whether or not he will continue his career, but rather with a short-term return to training and matches. It is important to stress that,” Neves added.

According to the cardiologist, it is a circulatory problem that has no direct link to something wrong with the heart. “It does not mean the person has heart failure or some other cardiac problem that would prevent them from living their life normally,” he noted.

PLAYER REASSURES FANS

Attacking midfielder Oscar spoke publicly for the first time after being hospitalized on Tuesday (11) for suffering a medical complication with cardiac changes during São Paulo’s physical tests at the Barra Funda training center.

Through his social media, the No. 8 moved to reassure fans and supporters, who had been distressed by the news.

“Thank you very much for the messages and prayers. Everything will be fine, God willing,” he wrote.

Since news of his hospitalization came out, Oscar has been receiving many messages of solidarity from São Paulo fans and even supporters of other clubs. Internacional fans, a club he also played for in Brazil, even posted videos praying for the player’s recovery.

Reassured by the board, which visited Oscar during Tuesday, São Paulo players are expected to go to the hospital this afternoon to visit their teammate. According to what AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR has learned, Oscar even made a video call with all the players, who were extremely worried by what happened.

LEARN MORE

Hospitalized in a São Paulo hospital after suffering a medical complication with cardiac changes, midfielder Oscar is expected to terminate his contract with São Paulo after receiving medical clearance and officially announcing his retirement.

The information was confirmed to AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR by three sources, one from the top ranks of São Paulo’s football department and two linked to the 34-year-old player, who has not taken the field since the win over Corinthians in the Brazilian Championship on July 19.

According to what AMT found, it was precisely after that match that the No. 8 underwent evaluation tests on the fracture of three lumbar vertebrae, which pointed to heart-related problems. At that time, at Oscar’s own request, the case was not made public, becoming information shared off the record by doctors and spread only by São Paulo influencer pages.

Meanwhile, Oscar continued a routine of monitoring tests that indicated improvement in his clinical condition and allowed him to be cleared to train with the squad. But the No. 8 ended up getting injured again, suffering a muscle injury in his left calf.

Oscar then consulted Hernán Crespo’s staff to understand the next steps. He was advised to first understand his case before making a decision. Shaken by the criticism from fans, the questions about his high salary, and reassured by exams showing improvement in his clinical condition, the No. 8 then gave up on the family’s request that he retire.

This morning, however, Oscar fainted during physical tests and left the Barra Funda training center by ambulance. The incident shocked everyone present, from players to staff.

The No. 8 remains hospitalized awaiting test results that will allow doctors to determine the origin of the cardiac change. But his condition is stable.

As per usual procedure and respecting the player’s privacy, new information will be released as soon as there is an update from the medical staff, in agreement with Oscar.

THE NO. 8’S BAD LUCK AND THE DIFFICULTY OF REGAINING HIS IDOL STATUS

As AMT revealed three weeks ago, the mood inside São Paulo was already pessimistic about the use of attacking midfielder Oscar in the team during this final stretch of the Brazilian Championship, in which the team is fighting for a place in the next Copa Libertadores.

Even before the new injury, there was already internal caution at the Morumbi club regarding the player. Oscar has not played for Tricolor since the win over Corinthians at Morumbi on July 19 in the Brazilian Championship. On that occasion, the midfielder suffered a fracture in three lumbar vertebrae and missed 16 matches while recovering.

In the last two matches, the No. 8 was included in coach Hernán Crespo’s squad list, but ended up not coming onto the field, still feeling the lack of better physical condition. It is another chapter in the attacking midfielder’s history of disappointments in his return to São Paulo after 15 years.

In practical, absolute terms, Oscar suffered his fifth injury since the start of the year. He has therefore matched the total number of injuries he had in the 12 years he spent outside Brazil, between 2012 and 2024, with Chelsea in England and Shanghai Port in China.

Adding the four injuries before this one, the No. 8 spent 175 days recovering, available for 30 of the 57 matches played by the club this season. He made 23 appearances, 19 of them as a starter and only nine for the full 90 minutes. Altogether, he has 1,591 minutes on the pitch, the equivalent of 31% of the team’s total minutes.

The figure is so low that any debate about the exact value of his salary becomes irrelevant: it does not matter whether it is closer to one million reais or three million, the cost-benefit ratio is poor in any scenario, except perhaps if the contract were that of a player newly promoted from the youth academy.

And that has sparked internal debate at Morumbi. According to what AMT has learned, there are quite a few people close to president Julio Casares who support trying for an amicable termination with the player next year, easing the wage bill. The matter, however, is being avoided for now by the football board.

In a press conference, Casares said he believes Oscar’s signing, under the terms in which it was completed, was carried out responsibly. São Paulo shares the responsibility of paying the player’s wages with Superbet, the club’s main sponsor.

“I believe that Oscar, like other players, was a responsible signing. When Oscar chose São Paulo, he was being pursued by two other major clubs in Brazil. The fact that he got injured is part of the sporting landscape, in which other players also have this kind of issue. We hope he remains in our squad recovering and that he can bring us the joy he was signed for,” he said.

“He was signed in a partnership in which a little less than half was put up by the sponsor. All of this gives us confidence that the renewal with Superbet also helped bring Oscar in. I believe Oscar’s arrival was highly responsible, just as all the signings have been responsible. Obviously, some do not work out right away. The less obvious ones work out over time, as in the case of Marcos Antonio. Signings have a degree of subjectivity. The dynamic over time answers the question of what was right and what was wrong, which sometimes depends on other factors,” the president continued.

Oscar became the image of exactly what São Paulo swore to avoid: high investment and low return from names that symbolize the past. The recent track record of players returning from China already pointed to the risk: Alexandre Pato, Éder Citadini, Hernanes, and Miranda all had spells well below expectations — and of those, only Pato avoided frequent injuries.

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