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São Paulo FC Prepares for Pre-Season in the US

The São Paulo FC is currently undergoing its pre-season training in the United States, specifically at the ESPN Complex in Orlando. As the team gears up for future matches, including an upcoming friendly with FC Series, major developments and challenges are unfolding regarding player availability and team strategy.

Training Update from Orlando

Our reporter Éder Krasin provides insights from the training ground. The São Paulo team is experiencing some difficulties, particularly in the left-back position. Recently, the team practiced a reduced-space training session featuring nine versus nine matches. However, they are currently without a top-level left-back, a gap expected to have an impact on their pre-season performance.

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Player Absences

One notable absence is Patrick, the sole left-back in the current squad, who is recovering from dengue fever. After suffering from the illness during the offseason, Patrick's platelet count is low, and he awaits medical clearance before he can join training. He is set to undergo tests in the U.S. to monitor his health status. Meanwhile, Enzo Dias, another left-back, is anticipated to arrive in Orlando soon and is expected to conduct his first training session on Sunday.

The Wendel Transfer Saga

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Alongside these training challenges, the ongoing transfer saga involving Wendel adds another layer of complexity for São Paulo. The club has signed a pre-contract agreement with the player, ensuring his arrival by mid-year. However, there are efforts to negotiate an earlier transfer from his current club, Porto.

Understanding the Transfer Negotiations

The situation surrounding Wendel's potential transfer is intricate. São Paulo has reportedly withdrawn previous verbal offers made to Porto due to stagnant negotiations. While the exact nature of these proposals wasn’t formalized through official documentation, discussions took place via email showing São Paulo's intent to swap players.

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Porto has been slow to respond, and there are claims from São Paulo that the Portuguese team requested a monetary transaction rather than a player exchange. São Paulo maintained that they do not have the funds available, leading them to solidify their plans by signing Wendel’s pre-contract.

Encouraging Developments

At this stage, São Paulo finds itself in a relatively comfortable position, with both Enzo Dias and the recovering Patrick potentially available to fill the left-back role. The club’s strategy seems to revolve around waiting for Porto to respond, while Wendel actively seeks to negotiate an early release from Porto. As it stands, the São Paulo management feels optimistic about securing the player's transfer before the upcoming season begins.

Conclusion: Looking Ahead

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The São Paulo FC is navigating a challenging pre-season with health issues affecting player availability and complications in transfer negotiations. However, the team's overall strategy appears solid, with preparations in full swing and the prospect of bolstering their roster with new talent. The coming weeks will be crucial as the team continues its training and hopes for a swift resolution to the ongoing transfer discussions, particularly regarding Wendel's situation. With more updates on these developments, fans of São Paulo can stay tuned for future announcements as the season approaches.