Paris Saint-Germain’s signing of midfielder Danilo Pereira was one that came out of nowhere. In the days leading up to the loan agreement, there were no rumors or speculations as to a possible deal between PSG and FC Porto for the midfielder. But as he usually does, Leonardo wound up completing the signing without any leaks in the days prior.
Daniel Lorenz, Pereira’s agent, spoke to Goal France about the midfielder’s move to PSG. He provided the behind-the-scenes details on the loan agreement with an option to buy and even touched on the fact that he offered Pereira to PSG last season.
“Already last season, I wrote to Leonardo about Danilo because I thought he could be a good player for PSG,” Lorenz said. “It had not been possible, so this year I came back to the charge. But then again, I was told, ‘Thank you, but right now we don’t need him.’ Until last week, we had no news. We were looking for a good team in a top club and we thought we were going to launch the second wave to see which club could take Danilo.
“I said to myself that it would be perfect for PSG and that we had to come back to them to remind them of the qualities of the player.”
Lorenz spoke further about just what convinced PSG to move forward and sign the midfielder on the loan agreement.
“PSG leaders obviously knew Danilo’s qualities, but maybe they weren’t aware that with this pandemic and financial fair play it could push some clubs to sell,” Lorenz said. “These conditions combined with the timing made the deal easier, as Danilo was coming out of five seasons at Porto, the last of which was with the cup-league double.
“Suddenly, we tried to find arrangements, to explain to PSG that he could sign a player under exceptionally advantageous conditions compared to usual, because as you know, Porto is a tough club in business and sells enough little normally. At the last moment, there was this opportunity. They gave positive feedback and it is done. We didn’t have time for negotiations. It was yes or no.”
Lorenz believes that Pereira made the right decision to leave Porto for a loan stint with PSG. The agent knows just what Pereira will bring to PSG.
“He wanted a bigger challenge and PSG offered him that,” Lorenz said. “And although I’m not a tactical football expert, I have a good scouting team and the people I have spoken to think and confirm to me that he is a great fit for the team so I hope that will work and will bring more to PSG.
“He comes to bring what he learned to Porto where you have to win all the matches even against the supposedly weaker teams. He can also count on his experience in selection.”
Pereira is set to make his PSG debut when play resumes following the ongoing international break.
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