São Paulo president Julio Casares has suggested that Evangelos Marinakis’ plan to invest in the Brazilian club will involve future transfers between Nottingham Forest and his other clubs.
Sao Paulo FC cover comments from the president today made in an interview with Gazeta Esportiva about the developing plan with Marinakis.
The Greek businessman has been looking to invest in Brazilian football for the best part of a year, with several clubs having initially been in his sights.
He’s now settled on São Paulo and its been explained in the past few months that he will be investing into the Brazilian side’s youth set up. The idea is a complex one but would see him taking a percentage of future transfer fees and other sums down the line.
Reports have stated that the current negotiations between São Paulo and the Nottingham Forest chief would see him initially entitled to 25% of the revenue from players. This would increase to a limit of 40% over the years.
It’s also been explained that Marinakis would inject $100m into the club’s youth sector, around R$ 617m at the current exchange rate. São Paulo will also be able to reacquire the shares they sell ten years after they are sold.
Work has been ongoing to get the agreement sorted for months and Casares now states that there could be future transfers with Nottingham Forest on the cards.
“He (Marinakis) is getting closer and closer, because he came to Brazil and wanted to meet me eight months ago,” explained Casares.
“I went to London twice and things are very close in terms of exchanging documents. We hope that we can announce it responsibly soon, and after it is signed, we will approve it in the deliberative council and discuss it.
“I have no doubt that it will be a turning point. It is not a sale of the youth team, the assets belong to São Paulo, the club is the majority owner and will continue to reveal its identity.
“São Paulo will receive semi-ready athletes, with the potential to play professionally, bringing sporting performance and commercial assets. We will have a faster air bridge to Europe.
“The player who comes to São Paulo knows that in two or three years of performing well, he could be in Europe, at Nottingham Forest or Olympiacos, or at Rio Ave. So, it is a sporting platform, not just a financial arm.”
