Paris Saint-Germain’s signing of midfielder Danilo Pereira from FC Porto on a loan deal was one that essentially came out of nowhere. PSG was linked with multiple workhorse midfielders over the recent summer transfer window, but Pereira’s name did not come up as one serious option for the club.
RMC Sport took a look back at the behind-the-scenes moves from PSG in its signing of the Portuguese midfielder. The report mentions that Pereira’s agent, Daniel Lorenz, offered his client to PSG. The club’s board did not have much interest in Pereira until Lorenz noted that the midfielder could also take some shifts over as a center-defender.
PSG then made an extremely late approach to sign Pereira away from Porto. The Portuguese side did not budge in offloading Pereira until former PSG sporting director Antero Henrique stepped in to accelerate the transfer discussions between both sides. Henrique spent a lengthy time with Porto as its director of football, so he is well familiar with the ins and outs of the club.
Porto wound up giving in to PSG’s demands and completed the loan agreement before the transfer window closed.
Had it not been for Henrique’s late help, PSG might have been pushed to look elsewhere for a versatile midfielder.
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