Ganso to stay at Santos

Santos midfielder Ganso has declared he wants to stay at the Brazilian club.

The 22-year-old playmaker was the subject of an eight million-euro bid from Porto last week, but the approach was rejected by Santos, who labelled it ‘comical’.

Ganso has been strongly linked with a move away from Brazil after talks over a new contract reached an impasse, but he insists he is not looking for a new challenge.

“I have a contract with Santos until 2015, whether I leave the club before that is up to God,” Ganso said.

“Regardless of that, I am calm here and I continue to work. I will say again that I am very happy playing for Santos.”

“I hope that this soap opera (about a new contract) will end soon, I want to stay here.”

Questioned about Santos’ response to Porto’s bid, Ganso said: “I do not have to like what the club is offered, but (I have to like) what me and my family are offered, in terms of salary.”

“I have had offers from Porto, Corinthians and several other clubs. If I wanted to leave, I would have done it by now.”

Last month, Santos president Luis Alvaro Ribeiro said the club could sell Ganso, who has a 50 million-euro release clause, if the player wanted to leave.