As former Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa continues to analyse his next move, Brazilian giants Santos continue trying to convince them they’d be a good option.
One of the most complete stories on this chase is featured by Argentine outlet La Nacion, who claims the Peixe are willing to ‘hand the keys’ to the manager to do whatever he wants there.
That means Bielsa wouldn’t only be a coach, but also have power to choose signings and improve the club’s facilities, as well as manage the youth ranks.
It was Santos president Andrés Rueda who called the 67-year-old in person to talk about their project. After one week of conversation, the club boss believes the contacts are ‘positive’. However, they be called negotiations for now, as the manager is still to start making his requests.
Meanwhile, journalist André Hernan brings the other side of the story. He says that as Santos are still to hear a response from Bielsa, they’re preparing a ‘last blow to convince him’.
The coach, who’s been unemployed since leaving Leeds United in February, is concerned about the Brazilian club’s instability, as they’ve fired three different managers just this year, and that has been going on for a while.
That’d be just one of the problems, since Santos are not in a great financial condition and wouldn’t only struggle to pay his salary, but also to bring in reinforcements.
After working at Athletic Bilbao, Marseille, Lazio, Lille and Leeds, Bielsa would certainly have doors open at other European sides. However, it’s no secret he’d like to work in Brazil, as La Nacion says, to ‘know the roots of Brazilian football’. And with Santos’ history representing the big essence of it, that’s something that could make up his mind.
