Leila Pereira, 60, was chosen to preside over Palmeiras from 2025 to 2027. The club’s top manager since the beginning of 2022, the businesswoman confirmed her favoritism in the dispute with Savério Orlandi, 54, and received this Sunday (24) the vote of 2,295 associates, against 858 for the lawyer. There were still 30 blank votes, totaling 3,183 voters.
“I would like to thank all the associates who trusted in the work of our management and gave us the opportunity to continue fighting for the growth of one of the biggest clubs in the world. We have already done a lot in the last three years and we will do even more in the next three , always with professionalism, responsibility and transparency”, Leila told Palmeiras’ official website after the vote.
The Rio de Janeiro native from Cambuci is now heading to her second three years at the helm of the club, which she joined as a sponsor in 2015. Owner of the credit company Crefisa and the FAM university network, she has been involved in the association’s politics since the beginning of the partnership. , had its doors open in the Deliberative Council and won the 2021 presidential election without opponents.
Since then, different groups have come together and formed an opposition bloc, criticizing his administration. Savério contested — and contests — above all what he calls the “very personal nature” of Leila’s management, with questions about the conflict of interests arising from his roles as director of the club and sponsors.
The arguments were not enough to overthrow Pereira, renowned for the great results achieved in professional football in recent years. The club’s financial situation, despite objections from opponents and occasional cash flow problems, is healthy compared to that of its main rivals.
“Today, it’s difficult to be the opposition in Palmeiras”, he said amusingly, in an interview with Sheet last month.
The opposition, in fact, had difficulties in the election. He questioned the rules of the game, lamented the charging of extremely high amounts — R$ 100 thousand for renting the gym, R$ 50 thousand for the use of the standardized stand — to carry out a campaign within the club and mocked the free shows offered to members.
These endorsed Leila, who is now entering a new phase in her relationship with Palmeiras. Crefisa and FAM’s contracts with the Alviverde association will end next month and will not be renewed. The president has already signed a four-year agreement with the betting company Sportingbet as main sponsor.
The agreement provides for the payment of R$100 million per year, adjusted for inflation at the end of each season, unlike what happened with Crefisa, without adjustment. There is also no longer exclusivity, which will allow the board to sell other areas of the uniform, with the goal of it being worth R$150 million per season.
The president is also counting on money from the next TV deal for the Brazilian Championship, with the promise of maintaining a strong team. The last few years have seen smaller investments in football, and a considerable portion of the fans are demanding reinforcements, especially a goalscoring center forward.
Palmeiras will participate in the Club World Cup in 2025, a new version of the World Cup, with 32 teams, 12 of them European. The challenging tournament is the big dream of Alviverde fans, who have become accustomed to winning important titles in recent years. At the moment, the team is fighting for its third straight trophy in the Brazilian Championship.
