Check out three signings that flopped at São Paulo in 2025 | OneFootball

São Paulo strengthened its squad in the market this season, signing nine players to give the team more depth. While some names stood out and ended the year on a high note, other signings did not pan out and failed to deliver as expected. With that in mind, Gazeta Esportiva selected three players signed by Tricolor in 2025 who fell short of expectations.

Oscar

Oscar holds the title of São Paulo’s most disappointing signing of the year. Announced as the club’s major reinforcement for 2025, the number 8 arrived at Morumbi with high expectations from the fans, boasting a résumé that included stints at Chelsea, the Brazilian National Team, and years of starring in Chinese football. The reality, however, was far different from what the board, fans, and even the player himself had imagined.

The midfielder struggled with several injuries throughout the season and was unable to string together even a single run of games for São Paulo. In total, he suffered five injuries, including muscle problems in his thigh and calf, as well as fractures in the lumbar vertebrae. Overall, the midfielder took the field only 21 times—a low number for a player signed to organize the creative sector and be a reference in decisive matches. His output was also below expectations: just two goals and five assists.

At the end of the year, Oscar’s medical situation worsened with a diagnosis of vasovagal syncope in November, an episode that raised important concerns about his health and began to influence his decisions regarding his football future. The trend now is that the player will announce his retirement soon—a melancholy ending for what could have been São Paulo’s best signing of the year.

See Oscar’s numbers for the season:

(Photo: Rubens Chiri/Saopaulofc.net)

Rigoni

Emiliano Rigoni returned to São Paulo for a second stint, but he also failed to deliver and left the fans frustrated at times during the season. The Argentine was announced in September this year and arrived on loan from León-MEX, with a contract until the end of the year and a possibility of automatic renewal based on goals, which were not met.

Rigoni was a sort of ‘emergency’ signing for São Paulo in the face of a crisis of serious injuries to the squad’s three main strikers—André Silva, Calleri, and Ryan Francisco all suffered knee injuries. However, the Argentine was unable to replicate the performance from his first spell and fell well short of expectations. Unsurprisingly, he was used in only 12 matches.

The forward even risked finishing the year at São Paulo without scoring a single goal, but managed to net his only goal in the match against Juventude, in the 35th round of the Brasileirão. Rigoni arrived at Tricolor for this second stint with the possibility of being the team’s ‘goal man,’ but failed in his mission: he ended the season as a substitute even with the absences and is not expected to remain at the club for 2026.

Check out Rigoni’s numbers for São Paulo this season:

(Photo: Rubens Chiri/Saopaulofc.net)

Dinenno

Juan Dinenno, like Rigoni, came in to try to fill the void of a center forward at São Paulo. The Argentine terminated his contract with Cruzeiro and signed with Tricolor until the end of this season, but he also failed to live up to expectations and left the club before his contract expired. Thus, the striker joined the list of signings that didn’t work out in 2025.

Dinenno suffered a serious knee injury in August 2024. Once recovered, he lost his place at Cruzeiro due to competition from Kaio Jorge and Gabigol and sought a new challenge. At São Paulo, however, he did not deliver. The striker had few opportunities, it’s true—he played only eight games this season—but did not earn a starting spot in the chances he was given.

By mid-October, the center forward also underwent arthroscopy on his right knee, which sidelined him for the rest of the season. Dinenno’s spell at São Paulo was so disappointing that he left the club before his contract ended. With just one goal scored, he said goodbye to Tricolor and has already been announced as a new signing for Deportivo Cali, Colombia.

Check out Dinenno’s numbers for São Paulo this season:

(Photo: Rubens Chiri and Paulo Pinto/Saopaulofc.net)

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