It’s always a big deal when a Brazilian club gets to sign a player who had been in Europe, especially from a giant side like Liverpool.
That’s why Santos made some noise when bringing in Lucas Yanase earlier this year. Not only because the youngster had been in England, but also because there was a controversy in the transfer.
The signing took place just two days after the new club president José Carlos Peres took charge, raising some doubts about why it had been agreed so early.
Now Peres has explained himself, trying to make the situation more clear: “Lucas had a contract with Liverpool and I forwarded that name to Marcelo (Teixeira, club director) last year. He has a future and his salary is very low. Five or six minimum salaries.
“He can develop a lot, is training and will show service. If he does well, we will use him. If it does not work, we will lose nothing. They made Carnival like it was a crime.”
But although the Santos president tries to make it a big deal, as if the player really belonged to Liverpool, the local press claims things are a bit different.
Gazeta Esportiva says that Yanase was actually having a training period with the Reds, so he wasn’t really a Liverpool player. That’s why it wasn’t difficult for Santos to sign him, since he wasn’t so convincing during his trials in England.
That’s probably the reason the transfer has never been news in England, with the player returning to Brazil because it was the best, and maybe only, offer he had.
