Casemiro ramps up pressure on São Paulo over unpaid millions | OneFootball

Casemiro, the veteran midfielder currently with Manchester United, has initiated legal proceedings against São Paulo FC over a longstanding labor dispute, according to Arquibancada Tricolor and reporting from O Globo. The claim seeks provisional enforcement of a previous court ruling and demands payment of R$2,040,619.10 from the club, a sum relating to unpaid labor entitlements accrued during his time as a player at São Paulo.

The dispute traces its origins back to 2014, covering alleged unpaid sums from when Casemiro was still at the club that developed him. The amount encompasses obligations such as overdue FGTS (the Brazilian severance fund), 13th salary, and vacation pay, among other labor rights. Last month, Casemiro's representatives submitted another motion to São Paulo's Regional Labor Court, including further documentation to support his claim.

The court has since given the club a specific window to respond to the evidence and arguments filed by Casemiro's camp. The legal process, already years in the making, now demands São Paulo formally justify or rectify the contested sums.

This new legal headache arrives as São Paulo wrestles with significant financial issues. The most recent financial statements, from the fiscal year ending 2024, reveal the club’s total debt standing at R$968,255,000—a figure that underscores the fiscal strains on one of Brazil’s most storied sides. While São Paulo recently secured new sources of revenue, the ongoing labor contention involving a high-profile figure like Casemiro is a sharp reminder of legacy obligations that persist from previous eras.

There has been no public comment from either Casemiro’s representatives or São Paulo FC since the latest filing. The outcome of this case could potentially influence how the club manages its financial priorities amid other pressing commitments and ongoing efforts to balance the books.

(Source: Arquibancada Tricolor, O Globo)

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