Twist: Portuguese stalwart apologises, accepts offer and joins São Paulo | OneFootball

It sounds like a Portuguese joke, but São Paulo is close to making the signing of 31-year-old center-back Domingos Duarte official.

Yes, you did not read that wrong.

After pulling out of the negotiations twice, the club from Morumbi reached an agreement with the Portuguese player for him to become the team’s third signing in this transfer window, after Victor Sá and Newton.

It is still the most important signing, especially given the clear need to strengthen the position, weakened by Dória’s departure.

Duarte arrives at Tricolor on a free transfer, as he is available on the market after the end of his contract with Spain’s Getafe.

According to what AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR found out, Duarte contacted São Paulo over the weekend, apologized for his stance, and agreed to lower his initial salary demands to fit within the cap set by the board, sealing a verbal commitment for two seasons.

The contract signing and official announcement are scheduled for this Tuesday (14), right after the exchange and validation of documents between the club’s legal department and the player’s representatives are completed. He is expected to report to the Barra Funda training center by this Wednesday (15).

History of the negotiations and financial adjustment

The positive outcome brings to an end a long saga that had broken down on two different occasions due to disagreements over signing bonuses and monthly wages.

The club had presented multiple deal structures, but talks had been halted by the player’s camp’s high financial demands.

The turnaround came after the center-back himself reopened communication channels, softened his wage demands, and accepted the latest counteroffer made by Tricolor.

Duarte was seen by Tricolor as a key piece for its depleted defense, which lost Dória and Arboleda. It was considered a unique market opportunity. Club officials themselves emphasized to him and his camp that he would arrive as the undisputed starter in the position.

With spells at Sporting and Granada, as well as call-ups to the Portugal national team, the player brings the international experience required by the board. He had been playing for Getafe, also in La Liga, but his contract ends on June 30, allowing him to arrive without the purchase of rights.

With spells at Sporting and Granada, as well as call-ups to the Portugal national team, the player brings the international experience required by the board. He had been playing for Getafe, also in La Liga, but his contract ends on June 30, allowing him to arrive without the purchase of rights.

Duarte’s profile appealed because of his leadership, physical strength, aerial presence, and quality in playing out from the back.

He had already come close to Brazilian football in 2019, when he was in talks with Flamengo as a replacement for Pablo Marí.

On the pitch, he is known as a ball-playing center-back, with good distribution, quality in the air, and solidity in positional defending. His main trait is his reading of the game and his ability to start attacking moves from the back.

On the other hand, he is not a particularly quick defender, which means he performs better in systems with less exposed lines and greater defensive protection.

End of the priority search for a defensive signing

The signing of Domingos Duarte fills the main gap identified by the coaching staff for the second half of the season. Planning for the defensive sector remained unchanged even after Ecuadorian Robert Arboleda was reinstated, returning to training with the main squad after serving a period away for disciplinary reasons.

Before finalizing the deal for the Getafe defender, São Paulo unsuccessfully tried to sign Arthur Chaves on loan, running into Hoffenheim’s refusal. Tricolor’s market analysis department also monitored names such as Porto’s Felipe Silva and Ricardo Graça, formerly of Vasco, but those inquiries did not develop into official offers.

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