Rui Costafootball executive from São Paulorevealed behind the scenes of the negotiation with the Corinthians through the steering wheel exit Alissonwhich did not materialize. The director admitted that the deal was not finalized due to the withdrawal of Timão’s management.
In the agreement between the clubs, Corinthians would pay R$1 million in cash to São Paulo for the player’s loan. After consulting the financial department, Corinthians management backed down and decided not to proceed with the deal. The draft contracts had already been exchanged between the clubs, and Alisson even visited CT Joaquim Grava.
“Corinthians formally expresses its intention to sign Alisson, from then on São Paulo comes to the table. São Paulo, aware of the meaning of this, I’m not an idiot, built a negotiation process that shielded the athlete and allowed him to carry out his professional activity at a club. And for reasons that are not for me to comment on, because I have respect for Marcelo Paz, I will not comment on colleagues’ decisions, Corinthians withdraws from the negotiation”, said Rui, in an interview with UOL.
Now, Alisson is fully integrated into the squad and available to coach Hernán Crespo. The player has the challenge of winning back the coach and the fans, who even protested against him on the outskirts of Morumbis.
“When Corinthians gives up, it creates a new scenario that is up to us to deal with. Will Alisson have to win back the São Paulo fans? No doubt about that. But Alisson is integrated, training, making an effort, he has already improved his physical numbers. Crespo came to him to say ‘I’m counting on you’, we have to create a process of sporting and also human reintegration”, he commented.
Other clubs showed interest in Alisson, but he stated that he would not negotiate the midfielder in ways that would not be favorable to the club.
“There were offers from other clubs, there came a time when we thought it would be better for him to play elsewhere, but São Paulo will only negotiate Alisson within its parameters. I’m not going to give Alisson for free to another club because somehow it is understood that he can no longer play for São Paulo”, he claimed.
In total, Corinthians would have to pay R$1.5 million to sign Alisson on loan until the end of the season. The purchase option was set at 2.5 million euros (around R$15.5 million).
The agreement is valid until the end of 2027. Tricolor considered the agreement a good deal and calculated savings of approximately R$7 million with the player’s departure.
Rui also stated that the fact that Dorival Júnior was in charge made Alisson interested in the transfer.
“Alisson never entered my office, nor the president’s office, to say, I want to leave São Paulo and go to Corinthians. The first question that has to be said is this. Alisson, based on a relationship he built with the Corinthians coach, with Dorival, because he was champion in São Paulo with Dorival, because he has almost 150 games with the São Paulo shirt, because he played for São Paulo undercover, with a broken ankle, with a rib. All of this has what needs to be said”, he concluded.
