Santos Intensifies Negotiations to Re-sign Former Benfica Defender Lucas Veríssimo from Al Duhail

Santos Football Club has stepped up efforts to re-sign Lucas Veríssimo, the 30-year-old central defender who previously played for both Benfica and Santos, and is currently contracted to Al Duhail in Qatar. The Brazilian club is pushing to complete the transfer before the foreign player registration window closes on Tuesday.

Lucas Veríssimo, a product of Santos' youth academy, has had a notable career that includes winning the Campeonato Paulista with Santos in 2016 and finishing as runner-up in the Copa Libertadores in 2020. After his stint in Portugal with Benfica, he moved to the Qatari club Al Duhail, where he currently plays. Santos is now seeking to bring him back to Brazil, a move that would reunite the defender with his formative club.

The negotiations have intensified following an initial loan proposal from Santos that was declined by Al Duhail. In response, Santos submitted a new offer to purchase 70% of Veríssimo's economic rights for approximately four million euros. This approach signals the club's strong interest in securing a permanent deal rather than a temporary loan arrangement.

One factor that may influence Al Duhail's willingness to release the player is the escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Recent incidents involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, including bombings at a U.S. military base in the region, have led to the suspension of local football competitions and heightened security concerns. These developments could motivate the Qatari club to consider the transfer favorably.

Santos' management is aware of the urgency, as the Brazilian transfer window for foreign players closes on Tuesday. After this deadline, clubs in Brazil will only be permitted to sign players who have participated in state championships until March 27, which could limit options for reinforcements. Therefore, the club is working diligently to finalize the deal promptly.

If successful, the return of Lucas Veríssimo would strengthen Santos' defensive options ahead of the upcoming fixtures and potentially boost the team's competitiveness in domestic and continental competitions. The club and its supporters will be closely monitoring developments as the transfer deadline approaches, with hopes that the experienced defender will once again don the Vila Belmiro jersey.