Mailton loaned to Fortaleza, São Paulo still seek full-back | OneFootball

São Paulo agreed this Thursday (25) to loan right-back Mailton to Fortaleza until December 31, 2026. The player's contract with the Ceará club does not include a purchase option.

Mailton joined Tricolor in September of this year, after standout performances for Chapecoense in Série B, and played ten matches until the end of the season. Despite some good initial games, his performance declined and he did not win over coach Hernán Crespo, who had no issues letting the player go, especially after seeing the rise of Maik, who took over Cédric’s starting spot.

The 27-year-old player has a contract with São Paulo until December 31, 2027. With his new northeastern club, Mailton will compete in the Campeonato Cearense, Copa do Nordeste, Copa do Brasil, and Brasileirão Série B next season. Fortaleza will pay the full salary of the right-back.

“Mailton is a right-back with good physical condition, who supports the attack a lot. He did very well in the last Série B for Chapecoense, with several goals and assists. That’s why he went to São Paulo in Série A and now we managed to bring him in,” said Fortaleza’s CEO, Marcelo Paz.

Tricolor still looking for a name for the position

Now, Crespo’s staff is left with only Maik and Cédric for the right-back position. But they are looking for another player for the position, even before Mailton’s departure, who was already being contested in the market by some second division clubs.

São Paulo was trying to secure the release of Vitinho from Botafogo, one of the most sought-after names by Tricolor in negotiations involving some players with the Rio club.

The football executive, Rui Costa, however, heard from the agents that he wants to wait until the end of the holidays to decide his future. In other words, he wants to wait until January. They believe this is a move, as his staff is likely waiting for inquiries from Europe.

With the deal with Botafogo becoming increasingly complicated, Tricolor remains in the market looking for a right-back, always aiming not to spend anything. That is, it will either be a player at the end of his contract, like goalkeeper Carlos Coronel, who will join the club, or through loans.

Just like Mailton himself, who arrived at São Paulo in a debt swap with Metalist, his former club. Tricolor settled the Ukrainians’ debt and kept the player.

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