Santos reach agreement on new three-year deal for Gonzalo Escobar | OneFootball

Santos have reached agreement to renew left-back Gonzalo Escobar, with a new deal expected to run for three more years once paperwork is completed.

According to Diario Do Peixe, representatives are awaiting contract drafts after both parties agreed financial terms. The Argentine’s current agreement runs to December, so he could sign a pre-contract elsewhere and depart for free.

Escobar wants to stay and his main request was a longer contract. Talks initially stalled amid concern over the club’s finances, but football executive Alexandre Mattos secured a verbal agreement and discussions moved forward this week.

The club acknowledged a delay in image-rights payments on Thursday the ninth. Santos are also under a FIFA transfer ban and cannot register new signings, so they will rely on the current squad and the renewal can be regularised on the BID.

After selling Souza, the Alvinegro have no other specialist left-back. Reserve Vinicius Lira is sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, while Rafa Gonzaga from the under-20s is available and Luan Peres, Ananias or even attacking midfielder Barreal could fill in.

Pedro Saraiva was tested in a training match and will join the academy, but he cannot be registered because of the transfer ban.

Escobar, 29, joined Santos in 2024 from Fortaleza in a deal that sent Felipe Jonatan the other way. He has made 102 appearances for the club, scoring once, including 25 this year.

Source: Diario Do Peixe