Backstage buzz! Vasco want Leila Pereira to lead SAF after Palmeiras exit | OneFootball

Palmeiras president Leila Pereira will step down from leading the São Paulo club in December 2027 and is already planning to buy a SAF to remain directly involved in Brazilian football. According to journalist Cosme Rímoli on his blog on the R7 portal this Tuesday (02), the billionaire revealed she is tired of the bureaucratic structure of traditional membership-based models and wants to take full control of a sports company. In light of this transition scenario, the top leadership of Vasco has shown strong behind-the-scenes interest in having the businesswoman in charge of the club’s football operations in the future.

Political allies of the executive had been working behind the scenes since 2025 to try to change the São Paulo club’s bylaws, seeking approval for the right to two consecutive re-elections in order to give the president nine years in power. Although she holds a broad majority of votes on the Deliberative Council, the Fiscal Guidance Council, and among the club’s members to extend her term until 2030, the businesswoman refused the possibility of changing the bylaws. In an interview with POD_i, the executive stated:

Close relationship with Vasco’s president

Vasco’s interest in bringing in the businesswoman on the corporate side is based on the strong personal connection built behind the scenes in the football market. President Pedrinho, a former player for the São Paulo club, has maintained an excellent long-standing relationship with the president, her husband José Roberto Lamachia, and especially businessman Marcos Faria Lamacchia. The Vasco chairman has been in talks for some time with the executive’s stepson to structure the transaction aimed at transferring controlling interest in the football department to the family group.

Until the definitive end of her political ties with the São Paulo club in December 2027, the executive is legally barred from taking part in any administrative act or financial transaction involving the Rio club. However, as of January 1, 2028, the billionaire will be free in the sports market to take command of a football company without having to answer to board members.

+ Not getting involved! Leila Pereira breaks her silence on Vasco and praises Marcos Lamacchia

Emergency meeting and billion-real deal

The rapprochement with the family comes at a time of intense pressure in the executive boxes at Colina Histórica due to poor results in the Brazilian Championship. The interested investor requested urgent meetings with Vasco’s entire board to speed up the contractual procedures for R$ 2 billion in exchange for 90% of the shares, fearing that the sporting crisis could increase the risk of another relegation. Renato Gaúcho’s team sits in 17th place in the table with 20 points, forcing the group to spend the World Cup break inside the tournament’s relegation zone.

The urgency in the offices is intended to provide financial backing for the football department to seek targeted reinforcements in the July transfer window and pay the first installments of the Judicial Recovery process. At the same time, the club is trying to obtain tax clearance certificates from the National Treasury to shield itself from legal moves by 777 Carioca.

On the pitch, the coaching staff is focused on striker Brenner’s physical recovery and is planning the logistics for the Copa Sudamericana playoffs against Independiente Medellín, knowing that the winner will face Olimpia in the round of 16 and could meet River Plate in the quarterfinals.

Pedrinho, Vasco president, and Leila Pereira, Palmeiras president – Photo: Social media reproduction

+ Follow Papo na Colina on social media: Thread, Bluesky, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok and Google News.

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