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  • Return of the Golden Boy? - Camilo's agent talks exclusively to AFTN


    Aaron Campbell

    From the moment the first rumours of Brazilian striker Camilo Sanvezzo's transfer from Vancouver Whitecaps to Mexican side Queretaro FC surfaced, one name was mentioned as being the main man responsible for the controversial transfer - Camilo's agent, Lucas Teixeira.

    Teixeira is Director of International Relations with the FootballBrazil company and agency, and he manages the careers of professional soccer players, including former Whitecaps striker, and 2013 MLS Golden Boot winner, Camilo Sanvezzo.

    Talking exclusively to AFTN's Aaron Campbell, Lucas spoke directly from his office in Praia Grande on the São Paulo coastline to shed some light on how the controversial transfer played out and to address the rumours of Camilo's possible return to Vancouver and to MLS.

    AFTN: When the picture of Camilo giving a thumbs up in a Querétaro FC jersey surfaced online this offseason, it infuriated Vancouver Whitecaps supporters. Knowing how the whole situation played out now, would you and Camilo do anything different if you could do it again?

    Lucas Teixeira: It is important to note that in this moment (of the photo) that Camilo is not already under contract. His contract with the Whitecaps had ended on 31/12/2013.

    His picture doing the medical examination was an "accident" because I would make an official statement stating that Camilo did not play any more for the Vancouver Whitecaps and explaining the reasons. The picture was taken by one ESPN reporter and published, but nothing was "official". It was told that it was my strategy to pressure the Whitecaps to negotiate the contract for Camilo. This is not true.

    But no, I would not do anything differently because nothing was done wrong. At that time, under the law of FIFA and the TAS, Camilo was free to sign with any club.

    AFTN: What did you see in Camilo's MLS contract that led you to believe it wasn't a valid contract?

    LT: The contract Camilo had, had a start date and end date, and Camilo worked with great honour in that period, always doing his best for the Whitecaps.

    His contract had an OPTION of renewal UNILATERAL. What must be clear is that option is not an obligation, and moreover, it is obvious that such a clause was an expectation and not a condition, nor an obligation. That itself, FIFA and the TAS recognized that in numerous cases that the unilateral option is inconsistent with the principles of contractual freedom and equality (equilíbrio) protected by FIFA.

    If for any reason Camilo had a bad season in the league the Caps simply could dispense of him with a simple notification. But we notified the Caps several times, seeking a dialogue, even personally in the team office. But not at any time did the club have the same desire for a dialogue.

    Only after our arrival in Queretaro and the publication of the photo of Camilo with the shirt of Queretaro was there an attempt at dialogue, but in this moment we already had the endorsement of our lawyer (Gislaine Nunes, who among others represent the Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Rogério Ceni, Paulo Henrique Ganso etc...) that Camilo was free to sign a contract at any club, and we had already given the word to Queretaro, so it was late.

    AFTN: What salary amount was Camilo asking for from the Whitecaps?

    LT: I do not talk about values, but what I can say is that we did not request a value outside of the normal. I remember that I saw a photomontage of Camilo with the shirt of Queretaro and a mountain of money with him, clearly accusing the athlete of being a mercenary.

    Well what few people know is that when we were in Mexico with the contract signed verbally with Queretaro FC, we received a greater proposal financially to return to the Whitecaps, but Camilo thanked him and kept his word with Queretaro and signed the contract the next day.

    As much as many people think otherwise, Camilo has a very strong word, yes is yes, no is no and end of history. He is like his father who is a very honourable character. The whole Sanvezzo family are amazing people.

    The problem for Camilo in Vancouver was not so much financial, but with the treatment given to him as a professional.

    AFTN: What is your opinion on how the Whitecaps organization handled the whole contract situation?

    LT: I'll go back to say, the whole problem was not the contract (because I cannot criticize a contract with a private company, that would be unethical) but the lack of dialogue of the Whitecaps with a professional who gave three years on the team always doing his best.

    Camilo arrived in 2011 for a trial period, and proved his value and when he tried to get a dialogue going in countless ways, he didn't have success. Even personally where he waited many hours to be received in the club's office, not being received and the club did not get a line of dialogue going with the president, or other person of directorship.

    AFTN: Peter Schaad reported in a TSN blog that Camilo is desperate to return to the Whitecaps. Is there any truth to this report?

    LT: I don't know Mr. Peter Schaad, and I have nothing against him, even though he made a post on his Twitter account questioning my ability to work, when he wrote on 18th May: "A "Good" agent would leave open all possibilities, instead of defending his job."

    ccs-249177-140264022822_thumb.jpg

    I have nothing against him but it was an extremely unfortunate statement to say that Camilo is desperate to return to the Whitecaps. There does not exist despair in any way. Even with Queretaro having gone through financial difficulties this season, there does not exist despair. The Queretaro team has a very competent and honest directive, which through its president Adolfo Rios, everything is being solved.

    Camilo played the Clausura tournament, giving his maximum. He suffered an injury when he arrived in Mexico, but once he recovered took the field and as always, did his best.

    No hypothesis exists where there is despair by Camilo, his family or his staff to return to the Caps. Camilo has a deep affection for the Vancouver Whitecaps and their fans, but now he plays for Querétaro FC and is focused on doing his best on and off the field, securing his place in the team and in the hearts of fans de los Gallos Blancos!

    On the day that Mr Peter Schaad published this bullshit, Camilo (who is on vacation) was fishing in his hometown, so I do not think he's desperate as was said.

    AFTN: Carl Robinson came out and stated that Camilo is one of five players on a short list of players they are looking to bring in this summer. Have yourself or Querétaro FC been contacted by anyone in the Whitecaps organization?

    LT: One thing about Coach Carl Robinson, he and Mr. Lino Di Cuollo [MLS vice president of player personnel] were the only ones who attempted a dialogue since Camilo's contract finished with the Whitecaps. This showed that both have extreme professional sense.

    I do not know the list of possible signings of Vancouver, nor if Camilo is on that list, but if there is interest in Camilo the only way is negotiating with Queretaro, and so far there has not been any contact between the clubs.

    ccs-249177-140264022818_thumb.jpgAFTN: The statement you released said that Camilo will not be returning to the Whitecaps because he has a 3 year contract with Querétaro. How are people supposed to believe that when according to MLS, he had a current valid contract with the Whitecaps?

    LT: I return to the answer of the first question, the contract with the Whitecaps would have ended in 31/12/2013. Ask any club that our company works with in the world if at any point any player represented by FootballBrazil did not respect and comply with a contract... Then yes, the contract of Camilo had been fully honoured.

    Camilo and myself signed the contract with Queretaro FC. We tried to negotiate in a number of ways, but as we did not succeed, we moved to the club that made the best offer.

    An interesting detail is that the Queretaro F.C. did not make the best financial offer! We had a great club in South Korea, which had a better financial offer, but by the project and the work of the president of Queretaro, Camilo chose to stay in Mexico.

    AFTN: There are rumours circulating that the only way Camilo could be accepted back by the Whitecaps organization is by not having you as his agent. What are your thoughts on this?

    LT: I do not worry about this. I have been working with Camilo many years, and I'm sure he knows the potential of my work (Malta, South Korea, Vancouver, Mexico) and if at any time he is not satisfied with my work, and does not want me any more as its agent, ok no problem. Business is business, but friendship follows...

    AFTN: When Camilo tweeted out a thank you to all the Vancouver supporters after signing in Querétaro, were you guys surprised with all the angry replies by Whitecaps supporters?

    ccs-249177-140264022821_thumb.jpgLT: Football is passion, I'm even a fan of a Brazilian team that has one of the world's most fanatical fans (S.C. Corinthians Paulista), so I understand that a few fans have it exceeded, but I believe that the vast majority of Caps fans, have a great affection for Camilo Sanvezzo.

    In my case, it reached the absurd. I received messages with people saying that I and my family would be killed (I remember that my wife was very scared at the time). I also received messages with words discriminatory and even of a racist nature, but I just erased, because I know that was limited to at most a few fans. I know of many people in Canada (Vancouver) and I know people who are kind, extremely polite, and peaceful.

    AFTN: Finally, is there anything you would like to say to all the Whitecaps supporters that feel betrayed by this whole situation?

    LT: A person sent me a tweet wondering how he was going to tell his young little daughter that her main idol had left the team. This question struck me and I tried to contact this father, with the thought of sending a signed shirt of Camilo from Brazil, but just not getting contact.

    Like this father and his daughter, many fans were saddened by the departure of Camilo because football is passion, but it is also the job of Camilo, and that is what the fans have to understand.

    Camilo has great affection by fans of Vancouver, but he also has a family, has a newborn daughter, wife, bills to pay, and you must seek what is best professionally for him and your family.

    And after numerous attempts at dialogue with the Whitecaps, Querétaro made a good offer, not only financially but with a respect to the principle of equality and with all the support of the board, and today I can say that Camilo is passionate for Queretaro and the fans of the club.

    I ask you Aaron as an example for the Caps fans, and I ask your answer honestly. You love your job, but suddenly the Washington Post (for example) makes you a job offer that will be best for you and your family, and your former employer does not want to at least talk to you and try to get an agreement that is good for both, what would you do?

    What anyone would do? We will be honest!

    For the fans of Vancouver, I have to say that the institution of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, is greater than all. Is greater than Camilo, than Lucas Teixeira, higher than Bob Lenarduzzi or Peter Schaad, Camilo wrote your story on the team well, as others will write, and I'm sure that the team will have a great season reaching the playoffs and even fighting for the title! GO CAPS!!!

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    [ED - So there you have it. We would like to thank Lucas for taking the time to chat with us after we reached out to him and give some background into why and how the whole Camilo transfer debacle played out. And never say never, Camilo could still be back in Caps colours one day. Whether that is a good or bad thing will long be debated. We also want to thank Stefan Eriksson (@the_pnguin on Twitter) for the big role he played in helping this interview happen.]

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