São Paulo, Luiz Gustavo in talks on veteran’s contract renewal | OneFootball

Last week, São Paulo’s board and midfielder Luiz Gustavo began talks to decide whether or not to renew the 38-year-old veteran’s contract, which runs until the end of this year.

The information was obtained exclusively by AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR from sources within São Paulo’s football leadership.

Considered the likeliest to headline the club’s departures since spending a long time sidelined after being diagnosed with a pulmonary thromboembolism, Luiz Gustavo has a powerful ally for his renewal: head coach Hernán Crespo.

Since returning to Morumbi in June, Crespo has consistently emphasized that he wanted to use Luiz Gustavo as a center-back, just as the veteran played in his final days in European football and also in Asia, where he was before signing with the Tricolor.

Well, the concrete opportunity to see Luiz Gustavo in that role came in the match against Fortaleza at the start of the month, when a series of injuries and suspensions led Crespo to field him improvised in the back line alongside another midfielder, Negrucci. Both delivered approved performances.

Luiz Gustavo took the field for the first time since recovering from a pulmonary thromboembolism, diagnosed on April 5.

Since then, he has followed a rigorous medical protocol that included rest, medication, and a gradual return to training. And after being named to the squad for two games in which he remained on the bench, he reached 50 appearances for the Morumbi club, putting in a more-than-assured display even while improvised in defense.

He didn’t lose a single aerial duel in the match (won all three of three attempts) and made 14 defensive actions, without committing a single foul.

At Crespo’s request—who wants to keep the veteran not only because he considers him technically sound and useful to the squad, but also an example to the younger players and a leader in the group—the Tricolor has decided it might be better for him to stay.

Now they must convince Luiz Gustavo.

As this report has learned, the veteran is under family pressure to end his career, even though he feels well and supported by São Paulo. He told people close to him how moved he was by the support from the fans during his absence due to the illness.

Also according to what was told to AMT, the initial talks are for an extension of at least three months, solely for the Paulista Championship, a timeframe that appeals to the club and to Luiz Gustavo, who in this way would repay the Tricolor’s support during one of the most difficult moments of his life.

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