All great transfer sagas come to an end, and Oscar dos Santos isn’t any different, as it seems the only thing keeping the 20 year old Brazilian from completing his move from Internacional to Chelsea is getting a work permit. Considering he’s played six times already for the national side and will play for Brazil in the Olympic games, it’s safe to assume he’ll get a permit.
8 Days ago it was confirmed that the two clubs have reached a deal for a £25 million fee, but that turned out to be false. It seemed like Giovanni Luigi, Internacional’s president, was keen on making Oscar the biggest ever transfer from Brazilian football to Europe. Oscar arrived in London ahead of the Olympic football tournament as an Internacional player.
But Chelsea, working various angles this summer trying to sign multiple players, have been very persistent regarding the young midfielder who actually began his career playing for Sao Paulo, who will also enjoy some share of money from this deal, which pushed up the price a little higher as well. The Brazilian trend which includes Lucas Moura, Ganso and possibly Neymar might finally get its first actual purchase.
Both sights are tight-lipped about the price, but it’s rumored to be a bit higher than £25 million, with Luigi throwing down hints and misdirections regarding the finances of the deal.
I won’t confirm the value, but I can guarantee it wasn’t in pounds. No cross-border negotiation is made in pounds. It’s either euros or dollars. I have also reached an agreement with Sao Paulo over their part. It’s Chelsea that will pay that, not Internacional.
Oscar has appeared 16 times for the Brazilian U-20 team that won the world title in 2011, the squad that is the basis and foundation for the U-23 team that will open their bid of Olympic Gold, something Brazil have yet to win, surprisingly, on Thursday playing Egypt. He has appeared 70 times for Internacional, scoring 19 goals and adding 20 assists.