Edinson Cavani of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates a goal during Ligue 1 2018-19 season 22nd round match between Paris Saint-Germain and Rennes in Paris, France on Jan. 27, 2019. Paris Saint-Germain won 4-1 at home. (Xinhua/Jack Chan)
Brazilian heavyweights Sao Paulo denied an intention to sign Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani, citing the club's financial constraints.
SAO PAULO, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian top-flight club Sao Paulo have ruled out the possibility of signing Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani, saying they lack the financial muscle to compete with Europe rivals here recently.
Cavani's contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires at the end of June and the French giants have confirmed they will not offer him a new deal.
In April, Sao Paulo said they could make a formal bid to sign the 33-year-old, who has also been linked with their Brazilian rivals Flamengo, Palmeiras and Internacional.
But Sao Paulo director Diego Lugano said his former Uruguay national team mate was beyond the club's economic reality.
"Even if several South American clubs pooled their money together, we'd still be unable to bring him. Unfortunately, it's impossible," Lugano told Brazil's SporTV.
Likewise, financial constraints have prevented Sao Paulo from negotiating with veteran center-back Thiago Silva, who has also been told that his PSG deal won't be extended beyond this year.
"We knew about Cavani, Thiago Silva too, who is a phenomenon, the best defender with whom I played," said Lugano, who was Silva's teammate at PSG in 2012 and 2013.
"But obviously, as you know, both Cavani and Thiago are highly valued and are still in demand in Europe. And there is also the situation with the pandemic in South America," he added. ■