Sao Paulo coach Rogerio Ceni has admitted that defender Luizao is set to leave when his contract expires in January with Premier League duo Fulham and West Ham United linked to the promising centre-back, speaking to Globo Esporte.
Well, you certainly can’t accuse one of Brazil’s biggest clubs of standing idly by.
Sao Paulo, according to Brazilian reporter Jorge Nicola, have ‘tried countless times to increase Luizao’s salary’. The 20-year-old centre-half appears to have little interest in signing a contract extension at the Morumbi, however, and is now almost certain to leave for absolutely nothing early in 2023.
“Luizao hardly stays,” says Ceni, the legendary goalkeeper with an eye for goal. “(Luizao has) not renewed. This is business. I find it very difficult for him to stay. It’s my opinion, not information.”
West Ham United turn down chance to sign Fulham target Luizao
According to reports, Portuguese giants Benfica and Porto have shown an interest in the highly-rated Brazilian. As have a Fulham side also keeping tabs on Luizao’s Sao Paulo team-mate Pablo Maia; an energetic, all-action deep-lying midfielder capable of easing the burden on Joao Palhinha at Craven Cottage.
A move to West Ham seems unlikely at this stage, however. After holding talks, the Hammers decided against bringing Luizao to the London Stadium. Thereby, potentially leaving capital city neighbours Fulham free to conclude a deal for one of South America’s best young defenders.
“Luizao is super confident that he wants to play in the Premier League,” Nicola adds. “He has already had advanced conversations (over a move to West Ham). Which is why he rejected several contract extension offers from Sao Paulo.
“The problem is that Luizao has already been notified, via his representatives, that West Ham are giving up. They understand that Luizao might not be able to give them all that they imagined, even if he was really cheap.
“There would have been no need to pay any money to Sao Paulo.”
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