Alan Franco bids São Paulo farewell after shock exit: “Always in my heart” | OneFootball

Monday night (13) brought the surprise of defender Alan Franco’s departure from São Paulo. The 29-year-old center-back will join Tigres of Mexico on a one-season loan deal, in an agreement that also includes an option to make the move permanent at the end of the period.

The agreement between the two clubs’ boards has been finalized, with only the exchange of signed documents remaining to make the deal official. But the Argentine himself has already confirmed the move, with a farewell message on his social media.

The player’s desire to transfer was driven by technical and administrative factors. There had been financial strain between the parties due to delayed payments, a situation that led the player’s representatives to consider taking the case to FIFA to collect the outstanding contractual amounts.

At the same time, the center-back felt he would have limited playing time under the new coaching staff, a scenario similar to what he faced during Dorival Jr.’s previous spell at the club. The formal transfer request was submitted while Rui Costa — the football executive who was recently dismissed — was still in charge, and the negotiation was ultimately completed under the interim management of Rafinha and Felipe Carvalho.

And at around 9 p.m. (Brasília time), Alan Franco confirmed the transfer, posting a farewell and thank-you message to São Paulo on his social media. Read it in full below:

“The time has come to close a chapter that I will carry in my heart forever. Wearing this shirt was one of the greatest honors of my career. Here I lived unforgettable moments, grew as an athlete and as a person, built friendships, and had the privilege of representing such a great club.

I thank all my teammates, the coaching staff, employees, and board for the respect, trust, and everything we shared along this journey.

To the fans, my most special thanks. Thank you for every bit of support, every word of encouragement, and for making this club a unique place. You were there at every moment and always gave me the strength to give my best on the pitch.

Today I move on to a new challenge, but I leave knowing that I lived a story I will always be proud of. I take with me unforgettable memories, lessons, and a gratitude that will never fade.

Thank you for allowing me to be part of this story.”

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