The club has already given the go-ahead for the negotiation, but awaits the “ok” of the Deliberative Council, which needs to approve any negotiations by Santos within three months before the election, scheduled for December 12. The body will meet next Tuesday .
Benfica’s proposal is for a loan for one year, with a mandatory purchase clause.
The figures are around 6.5 million euros (R $ 42.3 million, according to the current quote). As the transfer window is closed, Lucas Veríssimo’s trip to Portugal would be expected to carry on in January.
The defender’s representatives, Paulo Pitombeira and Marcelo Pettinati, negotiate directly with Santos‘ acting president, Orlando Rollo.
In a financial crisis, Santos does not hide that it sees in Lucas Veríssimo the possibility of easing several debts, with the squad and also in FIFA – the club remains punished and cannot register new players. In this context, Peixe wants to advance the amounts receivable for this transfer.
Santos released an official note on Friday about the defender’s situation. In it, the club also announced that they received an offer from an Arab club. The club in question is Al-Nassr. Lucas Veríssimo, however, became more interested in the Benfica project. It was a request from coach Jorge Jesus, well respected former Flamengo boss.
Benfica also tried to sign the defender in the last transfer window, but the lack of time prevented a deal from going through with Santos. Porto also tried to negotiate with the player at the time.
Lucas Veríssimo is Santos’ absolute starter and one of the team’s main players. The defender has played 124 times in total for Santos, scoring six times and assisting once.
