By Samindra Kunti
May 13 – For a second time this season São Paulo is in arrears paying its players. President Carlos Miguel Aidar has confirmed that the club owes its players two months of image rights payments.
The Sao Paulo giants had a similar problem in March when the club failed to pay its employees’ images rights and a bonus for ensuring Copa Libertadores qualification last season.
“The image rights are late again, two months,” admitted Aidar to Fox Sports. “But that has its reasons. A surprise arose: a debt owed to players who won lawsuits. Of the €1.1 million revenue of the Cruzeiro game, €295,000 went to the tax department and €738,000 went to pay the players who won in court.”
Two weeks ago Sao Paulo released its financial statement for the book year 2014. The balance showed a deficit of €29.5 million with a 62% increase of bank debts. This season Sao Paulo aims to amass a deficit of just €15.9 million.
Sao Paulo wants to attract a new main sponsor and sell some of its players, including defensive midfielder Rodrigo Caio, who has attracted Atletico Madrid’s interest, to manage its budget in line with the projections. Sponsorship contracts with Under Armour, Gatorade and Copa Airlines have already been agreed to.
Last weekend Sao Paulo won its opening game of the 2015 Brazilian championship, hosting Rio club Flamengo at the Morumbi stadium. Goals from Luis Fabiano and Alexandre Pato ensured a 2-1 victory. Next weekend Milton Cruz’s team travel to Campinas to face Ponte Preta.
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