Sao Paulo still harbour hope Arsenal’s Denilson will be allowed to return to the club on loan, after conceding they cannot afford to buy him.
The 24-year-old is a youth-product of Sao Paulo’s academy, but moved to the Gunners in 2006.
However, he failed to nail down a consistent starting place in London and subsequently returned to his boyhood club on a temporary basis last summer.
Since returning to Brazil, Denilson has featured regularly in the Sao Paulo team, making 36 appearances domestically and the club are hopeful they can convince Arsenal to let him remain with them for the time being.
Speaking to Globo Esporte, Sao Paulo vice-president Joao Paulo de Jesus Lopes said: “Arsenal’s staff want him to return but we are waiting for (director of football) Adalberto Baptista to have talks with them.
“Maybe we will manage to extend the loan for six more months or even another year. They (Arsenal) liked his performances, they liked Denilson’s development. That’s why they want him to return.”
