Behind the scenes: Dorival begged Massis not to sack Rui Costa | OneFootball

The dismissal of football executive Rui Costa caused internal repercussions within São Paulo’s coaching staff.

According to information first reported by journalist Arnaldo Ribeiro and confirmed by AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR, head coach Dorival Júnior is said to have intervened directly with club president Harry Massi, asking for the executive to remain in the position.

The coach’s dissatisfaction with the executive’s departure is reportedly linked to the professional history between the two, since Rui Costa was directly responsible for hiring Dorival on two occasions during his career, including his most recent arrival at Morumbi.

With the executive’s departure, the coaching staff is facing a situation of temporary isolation within the football department.

The coach is currently leading the mid-season training period while awaiting the completion of the squad overhaul, a process that involved sidelining some players and the expectation of new signings to continue the planning for the second half of the season.

In Dorival and his staff’s view, Costa’s departure symbolizes yet another moment of turbulence in the football department and creates more internal strain than actual relief.

“The departure of the executive with almost 20 days of work already done in the mid-season period, in the market, negotiating the requested signings, is not the best example of organization and planning,” a member of the coaching staff told the report.

With Massis’ decision made, Dorival asked for speed in hiring a replacement. And he is pressing for reinforcements to arrive by the beginning of July.

So far, Tricolor has only reached an agreement with one name, forward Victor Sá, who, despite training at Barra Funda, can only be officially announced next month, after his contract with Russia’s Krasnodar expires.

Without Costa, Dorival won a tug-of-war with the board: Arboleda’s reintegration. The coach had always asked to work with the center-back, whom he knows from his last two spells.

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