Millionaires’ club: Playboy joins São Paulo, to meet Vinícius Pinotti | OneFootball

After the resignation of Julio Casares and the dissolution of the power group that has been leading São Paulo in recent years, the path is open for the emergence of new political leaders aiming for the end-of-year election that will choose the successor of Harry Massis Filho. And, as AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR has found out, an alliance promises to shake the foundations.

A virtual candidate for the election and currently the main favorite to become president, former football director Vinícius Pinotti wants to have Diego Fernandes in his support base. Yes, the ‘investor playboy’, who claims to have the capacity to raise R$ 1 billion in investments for the Morumbi club.

It would be the union of two names that create extreme hope among the fans, more for financial reasons than for services rendered. Pinotti, like Fernandes, is known for the excellent state of his bank accounts. He gained notoriety during the management of Carlos Augusto Barros e Filho, known as Leco, when he used his money to buy the Argentine attacking midfielder Centurión for the Tricolor. Later, he officially took over the football department.

Since leaving the spotlight, Pinotti has continued working behind the scenes. He financially supports organized fan groups and amateur sports teams within the club. A declared adversary of Casares, it was surprising when he allied with the former president. However, he was pointed out as one of the orchestrators of the impeachment, being behind the purchase of the audio in which a box is illegally negotiated for a show at Morumbi. He was one of the first councilors to publicly declare a vote for the removal of the former leader.

Pinotti, who positions himself internally as a presidential candidate but avoids public statements on the matter, understood Fernandes' appeal among the fans and wants him close, according to sources consulted by the report. Especially after the investor announced his entry into the political life of the Tricolor.

As soon as Casares' impeachment was approved in the Deliberative Council, Fernandes used his social media to announce that he was becoming a member and would have a more active political participation.

“São Paulo is experiencing a decisive moment. Besides discussing responsibilities, it is time to discuss renewal. New councilors. New ideas. People with energy, preparation, and a real desire to change the game. The club needs people who are prepared, connected with the present, and willing to build the future. Gratitude to those who helped build the history. Now it's time to make room for those who want to make things happen. As a fan, I understood that opinion without participation is limited. Therefore, I started my process to become a member and contribute responsibly to the club,” he wrote.

For those who understand, a word is enough. Fernandes realized he couldn't ‘cut the line’. In other words, have some kind of power within São Paulo without going through traditional political rites. He had already realized this in December when he was ignored by Casares' allies and only managed a meeting with councilors at Paulistano after the articulation of people more interested in ‘cleaning up’ the institutional crisis already experienced than actually having him around.

Without much hope of a change in the scenario as an outsider, Fernandes announced on the 16th of that month the so-called ‘São Paulo Day’, as named by the businessman himself, which is actually a discussion panel to “rescue management, governance, and mainly the club's credibility.”

The project involves entrepreneurs and companies from inside and outside Brazil aiming at investments in the Morumbi club.

“São Paulo has always been a club that anticipated the future. When history shows us warning signs, staying silent is not an option,” he said.

But let's get to something more concrete. Is there at least a date for the event, where probably some of the potential investors will be revealed? No, nothing.

“It's not about positions, power, or internal politics. It's about creating a serious space for reflection so that São Paulo can once again be a reference in management, governance, and credibility,” he pointed out.

‘ESPN‘ brought much more compelling information about Fernandes. It revealed, for example, the behind-the-scenes of his actions to make the Italian Carlo Ancelotti the coach of the Brazilian National Team. He was a key figure in the hiring, but never received the agreed commission equivalent to R$ 7.7 million for the deal.

This is because Fernandes did not have the license required by FIFA to act as an agent, which even prompted questions from the football's governing body to the CBF. The hiring was done during Ednaldo Rodrigues' management but was reviewed by the current president Samir Xaud.

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