Bombshell! Swiss club want Maik from São Paulo, full-back set to go | OneFootball

In recent days, São Paulo’s board discovered that right-back Maik’s representatives have been contacted by Basel of Switzerland, and things are moving toward a bid for the 21-year-old being made in the next transfer window, during the World Cup.

The information was first reported by the page ‘Radar da Bola’ and confirmed to AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR by sources from both São Paulo and the player’s camp.

According to what was learned, the board’s message to the player’s agents is that Maik is a potential source of revenue through a transfer.

Having played for Brazil’s youth national teams and with a decent record in the Tricolor first team (18 matches and two goals), the assessment is that the club could secure a good deal for the player, who apparently is not in Roger Machado’s plans.

Against O’Higgins in the Copa Sudamericana last Tuesday (14) at Morumbi, Maik went a fifth straight match without being included in the squad.

Asked about the matter, Roger tried to explain, suggesting that the youngster has not been delivering what the coaching staff is asking for in training.

“I don’t have any other answer besides the one I think I gave in the last press conference: these are my choices for the moment. I work from a few principles. I respect every athlete’s path and history at the club, as well as those who come from elsewhere. But each player’s story with me starts being written from the moment I arrive. That is not unchangeable. It will depend on the players’ willingness to show day by day that they deserve an opportunity, just as they have had at other times. There is nothing more to it than that… than the choices a coach makes for this first moment. Again: this is not unchangeable. It can change according to the moment and each player’s productivity,” he said.

According to sources consulted by the report, the player’s behavior is considered completely normal and professional. There are no records of lateness or any kind of disciplinary issue.

“The player maintains an exemplary attitude, respects the coaching staff’s decisions and keeps working hard to earn space in the squad,” one source said.

The truth is that Roger has taken a shine to another player from Cotia in that position: Igor Felisberto. At 19, he was promoted to the first team first, in 2024, by Thiago Carpini, has been more consistent with the national team (he is a starter for the under-20s), and according to internal evaluations, has more potential than Maik.

Roger’s plan is to fully integrate Felisberto into the first team. And because of that, the one losing space is No. 42.

São Paulo had already acknowledged since the start of the year that Maik could be a potential sale in midyear. The problem is that the youngster’s market value did not rise even with his starting role during Hernán Crespo’s time: it remains around R$ 12 million. For that reason, one solution being considered is to arrange a transfer with ‘capital gain,’ that is, keeping part of his rights so the club can profit from a future sale.

Maik is one of the few players promoted from the youth academy over whom São Paulo holds a large share of the rights. The club owns 90% of the player, which gives it greater decision-making power in a possible transfer.

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