Paulo Caleffi, the defeated candidate in Grêmio’s presidential election, revealed that the big-name athlete he was in talks with during his campaign was Karim Benzema. The French center forward currently plays for Al Ittihad, in Saudi Arabia.
To prove the negotiation, Caleffi published the video used in the initial negotiations on his social networks. The material showed a montage of the striker wearing the Rio Grande do Sul club’s shirt and contained subtitles in French. However, without his election, can Benzema still reach Imortal? THE Sporting News show.
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Benzema at Grêmio?
According to Caleffi, the negotiation with Benzema involved eight meetings and was structured to adapt to a salary reality different from that in which Benzema lives in the Middle East, where he is named by Forbes as one of the highest paid players in the world, with a contract in force until mid-2026.
The viability of the operation depended on the participation of an external sponsor to assist Grêmio with costs.
During the election period, Caleffi had already signaled that he was looking for a player with a “more consolidated” professional career than that of Luis Suárez, a signing that he himself helped to bring about in 2023, when he served as football vice-president. This Monday (10), he posted a video to talk about the situation.
– I would NEVER play with the passion of the fan of the club that I LOVE compulsively. This video was the first step in the negotiations. I note that I transmitted the necessary information (including potential sponsors) and made myself available to those who will lead the club. Today, I say goodbye to Grêmio politics, I have fulfilled my mission, and I leave with my head held high as someone who has always tried to do the best. I will continue to support the tricolor, because absolutely nothing can be greater! – wrote Caleffi on social media.
Now, with Odorico Roman as president for the next three seasons, negotiations with Benzema should not continue. The player remains at Al-Ittihad, where he played 75 games and scored 46 goals.
Who is Odorico Roman, new president of Grêmio?
Odorico Roman is a leader linked to Grêmio, elected president of the club in November 2025 for the 2026-2028 three-year period. An economist by training, with a specialization in Finance and a master’s degree in Administration and Business, he is retired from Banco do Brasil and a member of Grêmio since 1982.
His career at the club includes previous stints on the board, notably as director and vice-president of football, actively participating in the victorious campaigns of the 2016 Copa do Brasil and the Copa Libertadores da América in 2017.
Roman had already run for president in 2022, being defeated by Alberto Guerra, and now takes charge of the club.
