Lucas Moura’s agent has revealed that São Paulo could have sold his client to Inter for €25 million before the midfielder joined PSG this summer.
The 20-year-old was at the centre of an on-going transfer saga before eventually joining Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain for a reported €44.5 million fee, which will go through in January 2013.
Wagner Ribeiro, the winger’s representative, has revealed that Lucas was close to signing with the Nerazzurri, before also agreeing to join Manchester United just as a switch to PSG materialised.
Ribeiro told Bom Dia: “If Lucas had forced São Paulo’s hand, then he would have been sold to Inter for €25 million several weeks ago.
“After he said no to Inter, São Paulo had agreed a deal with Manchester United for €36 million. However, then Leonardo’s proposal from PSG arrived.”
Lucas, who helped the Seleção win silver at the London 2012 Olympic Games this summer, scored in São Paulo’s 3-0 Serie A win over Ponte Preta on Saturday night.
After the game he told reporters that he is fully committed to São Paulo, despite the fact that he will be playing for Paris Saint-Germain next year.
Lucas said: “I was eager to play at the Morumbi and to wear the São Paulo shirt again.
“For all that has happened recently, my responsibility has increased and I’m ready to deal with it.”
The young attacking midfielder joined São Paulo in 2005 after playing for the youth teams of Juventus and Corinthians. He has made a total of 105 appearances to date, scoring 27 goals.
