São Paulo, Brazil - Alex Telles has become the latest player to join São Paulo after signing for the club from Santos. The Brazilian midfielder made his debut in the Copa Libertadores final against River Plate last week and was named man-of-the-match.
Telles, who is currently on loan at Gremio, joined Santos in 2016 and played a key role in their success over the past few years. He scored 24 goals and provided 17 assists in all competitions during his time with Santos, helping them win the Campeonato Brasileiro and reach the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores.
However, Santos' financial troubles led to Telles being sold to Gremio in January this year. Despite missing out on the chance to play in the Copa Libertadores, Telles still managed to impress in his first season with Gremio, scoring five goals and providing three assists in all competitions.
Now, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, Telles has decided to sign for São Paulo. His move to the Série A giants will be seen as a big coup for manager Luciano Spalletti, who will be looking to strengthen his midfield options ahead of next season's campaign.
Tells' arrival at São Paulo will give Spalletti more flexibility in his attacking options and could also provide him with cover for his other central midfielders. With Telles having experience playing at both international level (Brazil) and in Europe (Gremio), he should bring a wealth of knowledge and leadership qualities to the team.
Overall, Telles' move to São Paulo is a positive development for the club and will hopefully help them achieve their goal of winning the Copa Libertadores next year.