So, why does Massis keep Rui Costa as São Paulo executive? | OneFootball

At least São Paulo has one thing settled: Rui Costa and Rafinha will remain the directors in charge of professional football. At least for now…

That was the conclusion reached on the morning of this Thursday (14) by president Harry Massis, in a virtual meeting with the two.

As AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR revealed, the pressure on the São Paulo president to dismiss especially the football executive was huge behind the scenes. Influential members, board advisers, and even people from the administration pressured Massis to make changes in charge at Barra Funda.

The suggestion, so to speak, was turned down for a few reasons. To political allies, the president listed some of the difficulties that would be faced if Costa were dismissed.

According to the explanations, the executive is handling some negotiations, both involving São Paulo players who could be sold and potential reinforcements being targeted for signing.

There are also talks underway to renew some contracts, namely those of Calleri and Lucas.

In other words, removing Costa at this moment could send things back to square one.

That is not the only point. Costa is the one who will lead the negotiations to hire the new head coach, replacing Roger Machado, who was fired after the embarrassing elimination from the Copa do Brasil against Juventude. The executive is currently in Florianópolis (SC), where he will speak with Dorival Júnior.

Massis’s internal assessment is that any structural change in football should happen only during the break for the World Cup, when a possible replacement for Costa would arrive with time to settle in.

Names suggested by people close to him, some of them employees, did not excite the president, who, just as he did with Roger Machado, is also holding back because of the termination fee, around R$1.5 million. And just like Roger, who knows if the outcome might not end up being the same…

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