Vardy, at 40, Has an Exotic Offer
Jamie Vardy isn't ready to retire, and alongside English options, surprising interest from São Paulo has emerged. Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford is considering the Turkish path already paved by Mohamed Salah.
Jamie Vardy isn't ready to retire, and alongside English options, surprising interest from São Paulo has emerged. Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford is considering the Turkish path already paved by Mohamed Salah.
Jamie Vardy, the legendary English striker, has no intention of hanging up his boots even though he'll celebrate his 40th birthday in January. He's finished his stint in Italy, and now he faces two very different options: playing in England again or an unexpected move to Brazil's Serie A.
Brazilian giants São Paulo have made contact with the 39-year-old veteran. This information has been confirmed by Italian expert Fabrizio Romano and ESPN Brazil. Vardy is currently a free agent after his contract with Italian side Cremonese expired, for whom he played 29 matches and scored seven goals in Serie A last season.
In Brazil, it's reported that there's no full consensus within São Paulo's leadership regarding the potential signing of Vardy. Part of the club's management believes his energy, winning spirit, and vast experience would be a major boost to the attack, while others are concerned about his age and the high wages he would demand.
São Paulo isn't the only possible choice for the Leicester legend. West Ham and his former club Sheffield Wednesday are also mentioned as potential new destinations. Vardy has returned to England with his family and is expected to make a decision about continuing his career in the coming days.
While Vardy weighs his options between England and Brazil, Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford faces an uncertain future. He spent last season on loan at Barcelona, and United wants to sell him permanently. The main obstacle is his salary, estimated at around £325,000 per week, which has proven to be a major stumbling block in negotiations with potential clubs.
According to Goal.com, reliable Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu reports that one of Turkey's "big three" clubs contacted Rashford's agent this week to inquire about the terms of a deal. The interested party has not yet been named. Neither United nor manager Michael Carrick have offered solid guarantees about the England international's place in the squad.
Mohamed Salah has already made the move to the Turkish league, signing for Trabzonspor on a free transfer this summer. That move opens the door for Rashford to follow the same path if a transfer elsewhere doesn't materialize. For now, Rashford is expected to remain at United after the transfer window, but his future remains wide open.
