Santos is looking to sign Léo Natel from Corinthians, who is currently on loan to an Australian club. The 27-year-old striker is set to return to Corinthians at the end of the month after a loan spell with Melbourne City in Australia. However, he is not part of Corinthians’ plans for the rest of the season.
Natel’s contract with Corinthians only runs until December 31st, which means he will be free to sign a pre-contract with another team starting in July. Aware of this situation, Santos is working to secure Natel’s release from Corinthians so that he can sign a permanent two-season deal with them.
Currently, negotiations are ongoing between Santos and Natel’s agent, Luisinho Piracicaba. However, Corinthians has denied being approached to discuss Natel’s potential release.
In a statement, Natel’s agent emphasized the need for discussions with Corinthians, highlighting that there should not be an auction for the player’s services. He also praised Santos as a wonderful team for Natel but stressed the importance of reaching an agreement quickly to ensure Corinthians does not lose him for free at the end of the year.
During his time with the Australian team, Natel scored six goals in 29 games. In addition to Corinthians, he also came through the youth ranks at São Paulo. With Corinthians, he has made 54 appearances and scored four goals.
The potential move to Santos would provide Natel with a new opportunity to showcase his skills and contribute to the team’s success. It remains to be seen how the negotiations between the two clubs and the player’s agent will unfold in the coming weeks as they seek to reach a favorable agreement for all parties involved.