Author: Vishwajit Sawant
São Paulo FC have a single objective for next year: to secure the retention of their star player, Lucas Moura. In an interview on Tuesday, the club’s director of soccer, Carlos Belmonte, said that all efforts next season will be aimed at keeping the highly-regarded number 7.
“Lucas, from our point of view, is the main reinforcement we want for 2024. If we can spend all our bullets on an athlete, it will be on keeping him. That’s clear to us here. I don’t want to raise expectations or put pressure on Lucas” said Belmonte, highlighting the club’s determination.
Lucas Moura had already agreed to stay at São Paulo until December, when he would then assess whether he would remain with the team. According to Belmonte, this agreement is the result of mutual respect between the player and the club. São Paulo is actively engaged in discussions with interested parties, with the aim of making an attractive offer to ensure Lucas’ comfort and commitment.
The decision on whether to keep Lucas Moura at the club is expected to be influenced by a few key factors. Firstly, his desire to stay in Brazil will play a key role, as this was an important consideration for him and his family when he arrived at São Paulo. In addition, the potential for success and competition next season, especially the prospect of playing in the Copa Libertadores, carries considerable weight in the decision-making process.
Belmonte emphasized: “Lucas doesn’t care how much he earns or doesn’t earn. That’s not your focus. He wants to know if the team is going to remain competitive, if we’re going to keep up the work we’ve done this year. He wants to win championships, not just take part.“
However, São Paulo face a challenge in the form of offers from abroad, which should come in towards the end of the season. Lucas Moura had already rejected lucrative offers from Arab soccer and the United States because they exceeded what São Paulo could offer.
“The truth is that we know the situation we’re facing. Lucas, if he snaps his fingers, will have an offer from abroad that will be much higher than what we can offer. It depends on whether Lucas wants to stay in Brazil“, admitted Belmonte.
As the Campeonato Brasileiro enters its final stretch, Lucas Moura will have a crucial decision to make, and São Paulo FC are working diligently behind the scenes to keep their biggest star for the 2024 season. The club’s unwavering commitment to this goal underlines the importance of Lucas Moura to the São Paulo team and the profound impact he has had both on and off the pitch.