Ganso will not play for São Paulo until 2013

It is now looking even more likely that São Paulo fans will have to wait until 2013 to see their new signing Paulo Henrique Ganso, according to a report in Folha de S.Paulo on Sunday.

Ganso, 22, was already injured when he signed for São Paulo from rivals Santos last month and the clubs physio, Luis Rosan, had already warned that the player would probably miss the rest of the 2012 season.

He said: "Our objective is that he returns this year but it's not possible to confirm that this is going to happen.

"He will only resume training when he is no longer feeling pain and the muscle has fully healed."

But now it is looking certain that he will not return before next season, as Folha are reporting that Ganso is suffering from a muscle imbalance and that a return to the pitch too early could have lasting consequences.

However, friends of the newspaper had stated that the player is working as hard as he ever has to be fit for his new club.