To offload Cédric, São Paulo will even loan him out, pay wages | OneFootball

São Paulo has decided it will make the conditions for right-back Cédric Soares’ departure as flexible as possible in this transfer window.

Out of the coaching staff’s plans for the rest of the season, the 34-year-old Portuguese defender has been training at alternative times at the Barra Funda training center.

In an effort to speed up the player’s exit, the club’s board has softened its stance and is willing to negotiate a loan deal, even accepting something almost unthinkable for a club with serious financial problems: paying part of the full-back’s wages.

Signed on a free transfer last year, Cédric arrived at Morumbi amid high expectations because of his experience in European football. However, the player showed inconsistent form and lost his place in the main rotation in recent months.

With a contract running until December 2027, both the club and the player’s representatives share the view that an immediate transfer is the best path for both sides.

Departure planning and squad reshaping

Cédric Soares tops a list of players available for transfer drawn up by São Paulo’s football department for this registration period. The club is adopting different strategies for each case, seeking to balance the finances and give promising youngsters more playing time:

Bringing exits forward before contracts expire: To avoid losing assets without financial compensation, the board is looking to finalize the immediate departures of players whose contracts end in December this year, such as goalkeeper Young, defensive midfielder Luan, and centre-back Matheus Belém.

More minutes on the pitch: Forward Paulinho, recently promoted from the Cotia academy, is regarded as a talent in need of competitive experience. For the youngster, the club is prioritizing a loan move to teams where he can play regularly.

Among the moves currently underway, centre-back Matheus Belém’s situation is the most advanced. The 23-year-old defender has reached a verbal agreement to join FK Qabala of Azerbaijan.

As the player’s contract with Tricolor expires in December, São Paulo agreed to release him immediately without a transfer fee. In return, the board secured 20% of the player’s economic rights, ensuring a financial share in future deals on the international market.

Also on Tuesday (14), the Morumbi club agreed to send goalkeeper Young on loan to Portimonense of Portugal. The deal will be free of charge and, in return, Tricolor will retain 20% of the player’s rights in any future transfer.

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