SportsEye
·4 juillet 2025
São Paulo set for big Crespo comeback

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·4 juillet 2025
São Paulo are finalizing the departure of Luis Zubeldía before registering Hernán Crespo as their new head coach, according to Arquibancada Tricolor. Although Zubeldía’s exit was announced publicly on June 16, the formal termination of his contract remains incomplete. The two parties are in advanced negotiations to settle payment details, and once things are agreed, the release will be made official on the CBF’s BID system. This step is required before São Paulo can complete Crespo’s registration.
Barring complications, the club expects the process to be finished during the coming week. Assuming the paperwork is finalized in time, Crespo could make his second managerial debut for São Paulo as soon as the upcoming 13th round fixture.
This coaching transition comes as São Paulo sit in 14th spot. After 12 matches, the club have notched two wins, six draws, and suffered four defeats, scoring ten and conceding fourteen goals.
Meanwhile, recent comments from right-back Moreira shed some light on the climate behind the scenes during Zubeldía’s tenure. Speaking to GE (reported by Arquibancada Tricolor), Moreira—currently on loan at Porto—stressed that he had no personal issues with the outgoing coach. “The reality is that I never had a problem with Zubeldía. I was always professional, and he told me so. I learned a lot from him day to day,” said the player.
Moreira acknowledged that his limited playing time was not the result of any conflict, but rather “external factors.” The young defender described his loan move to Portugal as motivated by a desire for more minutes on the pitch, an aim he feels has been satisfied: “I came here looking for more minutes, and that objective was achieved. Things have worked really well,” he added.
Despite leaving for more chances abroad, Moreira expressed deep affection for São Paulo, a club he joined at the age of 13. He highlighted continued support from the fanbase: “There are no hard feelings. São Paulo is my home. I love São Paulo, I love the people there. Every day I get messages from fans asking me to come back.”
With the transaction for Zubeldía’s release nearly complete and Crespo’s return imminent, São Paulo will soon look ahead to a new chapter under familiar leadership. Crespo previously guided the team to silverware and returns at a challenging moment, with the side hoping a managerial change can provide renewed impetus as the season unfolds.
(Sources: Arquibancada Tricolor)
Photo by Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images