Oscar's departure at the end of his contract in 2024 would have been a foregone conclusion had he not been determined to accept a salary of up to €3 million or €2 million a year, or had he still harbored the desire to stay with the Harbour.
Whether Oscar stays or goes is not the key, the real concern is when he leaves or whether he will opt for an early departure.
Saving for a rainy day becomes the norm
According to Romano, Oscar's love affair with the Seaport doesn't seem to run deep this season. He mentioned that Flamengo's negotiations for Oscar's signing ends next January, before Brazil's 2023 season kicks off.
For Oscar and Shanghai Harbour Club, 2023 will be a pivotal year that will determine whether the two sides can continue to move forward together.
Although Oscar's contract does not expire until the end of 2024, the CFA has only released the "Financial Engagement Indicators for Clubs in the Third-Tier Professional League for the 2021-2023 Season". For players like Oscar whose salary exceeds the salary limit, the difference in salary will be excluded from the calculation of players' salary and the club's total expenditure cap until December 31, 2023," the CFA said.
This means that by 2024, the situation could change. This uncertainty has forced Oscar and his agent to plan ahead for the future.
Compared to the habit of Chinese players who usually negotiate contract extensions with their clubs just before the expiration of their contracts, more professional foreigners usually choose to set aside more than a year to plan ahead.
For example, Hulk, whose contract expires in 2020, began negotiating a contract extension with Shanghai Harbour Club as early as the 2018 season; Oscar similarly signed a contract extension with the club in 2019.
Therefore, it is only natural that Oscar's name is in the transfer rumors.
Behind the rumors is a strategy
Romano has become a source of transfer information in the international soccer world thanks to his extensive contacts in the soccer circle, especially with many agents to maintain a good relationship. It is a common tactic in the transfer market for players and agents to put pressure on all parties by releasing information in order to increase their value and secure more favorable contracts.
It is believed that Flamengo FC, which can only offer a pre-tax annual salary of €2 million to €3 million, is not Oscar's first choice, similar to the Chinese Super League's foreign aid salary limit. His former teammate at Harbour, Brazilian title winner Hulk, also earns no more than €3 million a year before tax at Atletico Mineiro.
Family factors may be key
According to sources close to Oscar, his wife had expected a change from her husband earlier this year, and the family factor could be crucial for Oscar.
However, Oscar and his agent's team are also bound to take financial factors into account. Shanghai Harbour Club does not have a problem with unpaid wages, and even if his contract is only extended until the end of 2023, it will ensure that he earns at least tens of millions of euros in a year and a half.
Therefore, what could prompt Oscar to leave during the summer transfer window could be an offer from a big club in a mainstream European league. Oscar may be willing to make some sacrifices in terms of salary if he can return to the highest level of European soccer.
But up to now, there is no rumor that European clubs are interested in signing Oscar. Romano put out such news at this time, and added "Oscar is open to a transfer" at the end, perhaps to attract European clubs interested in Oscar.
Harbor Club Attitude TBD
Of course, with Oscar still on a two-and-a-half year contract with the Harbour, it will be up to Shanghai Harbour FC if he wants to move to Europe or Brazil this summer.
Back in 2019, Seaport completed a contract extension with Oscar, the centerpiece of the team, with the goal of achieving good results in the 2020 season and qualifying for the Club World Cup, which will be held at home.
In order to this goal, the seaport team also made a lot of efforts, such as the signing of the Austrian international Arnautovic; before the outbreak of the new crown epidemic, the operation of the Premier League player Muy to replace Ahmadov; and even if it is not the epidemic, the elderly Hulk may also be replaced; three Brazilian foreign aid in the international passenger shipping routes before the closure of the chartered flights, "Whistle" entry! "The three Brazilian foreigners arrived on a chartered flight before the closure of international passenger shipping routes. All these reflect the determination of the Harbour team to compete for the title that year.
Club World Cup canceled, less financial pressure on harbor teams
Now that the Club World Cup and Asian tournaments scheduled to be held in China have been canceled, Shanghai Harbour Club's desire to compete for the title through continued big investments is waning, judging by the cost-containment of last year's and this year's seasons. This is the biggest variable in their willingness to keep Oscar or let him go this year.
After all, Oscar's annual salary of ten million euros is a significant annual expense for Shanghai Harbour Club and its parent company. If Oscar does say goodbye early, this will not only save a huge amount of money, but from the club's financial point of view, it is also a good choice. (Weekly Shanghai Yu Jiong)
