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Marcos Leonardo Transfer from Al Hilal to São Paulo
Al-Hilal refused a loan offer from São Paulo for Marcos Leonardo during the final stretch of the transfer window. The club has stated that they count on the player and the issue with his registration in the Saudi league is due to a regulation that will soon allow him to be registered as a non-foreigner. Despite not being registered for the Saudi League currently, he remains with the club and is expected to play in other competitions.
According to ESPN BR, after Marcos Leonardo was not registered for the national championship and his loan to São Paulo was vetoed at the end of the transfer window, he had looked into the possibility of a contract termination similar to Renan Lodi's.
ESPN BR reports on the failed transfer negotiations involving Marcos Leonardo and São Paulo. Marcos Leonardo was in negotiations to join São Paulo on a four-month loan. All parties involved, including São Paulo and the player, were in contact with Al Hilal's management. São Paulo was willing to pay part of the loan fee, but Al Hilal demanded a payment of approximately R$ 12 million. Without reaching an agreement, the deal fell through.
São Paulo is negotiating with Al Hilal to sign Marcos Leonardo on loan until the end of the season. Al Hilal needs to respond before the Brazilian transfer window closes. Marcos Leonardo is willing to forgo a significant portion of his salary to fit São Paulo's financial constraints. The player joined Al Hilal in September 2024 for 40 million euros and has a contract until June 2029.
São Paulo has intensified its negotiations with Al Hilal in an effort to acquire Marcos Leonardo on loan until the season's end. Marcos Leonardo has expressed his willingness to significantly reduce his salary over the next four months to facilitate his move to São Paulo. Currently, he is not included in Al Hilal's plans for the Saudi League. Following André Silva's injury, São Paulo has identified Marcos Leonardo as their primary target to bolster their attack. The club remains optimistic about the transfer, despite the complex financial arrangements needed and the imminence of the transfer window's closure. Marcos Leonardo is under contract with Al Hilal until June 2029, having transferred to the club for 40 million euros in September 2024.
São Paulo is optimistic about securing a loan agreement for Marcos Leonardo. Discussions have progressed, though some details remain unresolved for Al Hilal to accept the terms, which would be in effect until December of this year. Despite facing competition from European clubs, São Paulo is confident it can provide the best environment for the player to excel and increase his chances of joining the Brazilian national team, where Carlo Ancelotti holds him in high esteem. Marcos Leonardo was not registered in the Saudi League as Al Hilal was unable to create space on their foreign player list, making a short-term loan a feasible option until a final decision is made in January.
São Paulo recently reached out to assess the situation of Marcos Leonardo, the Brazilian striker currently playing for Al Hilal, to determine the feasibility of turning their interest into negotiations. Upon evaluation, they realized that initiating discussions to bring the 21-year-old striker to their team would be nearly impossible at this juncture, given the impending closure of the transfer window and the need for a complicated financial arrangement. Marcos Leonardo had transferred to Al Hilal for a sum of 40 million euros in September 2024 and is earning a salary considered high by São Paulo's standards. The informal inquiry is unlikely to progress into formal negotiations. His contract with Al Hilal is due to expire on June 30, 2029, and his market value is currently estimated at €18 million, according to Transfermarkt.
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