President of Botafogo-SP reveals ‘unrefusable proposal’ from Cruzeiro to Paulo Pelaipe

Cruzeiro’s new football manager, Paulo Pelaipe said goodbye to the technical committee, board and players of Botafogo-SP on Monday afternoon (30). Through social media, the Ribeirão Preto club released a farewell video for the leader, in which he appears thanking his employees.

Before Pelaipe addressed the cast, Adalberto Baptista, president of the Board of Directors of Botafogo-SP, informed the group about the “irrefutable proposal” sent by Cruzeiro.

“Our director Paulo Pelaipe received an offer from Cruzeiro that he couldn’t refuse. He will be there with Alexandre Mattos to take care of Cruzeiro’s football. I wanted to communicate firsthand and thank Paulo immensely. In addition to being a director who represented me very well, he ended up becoming a friend. I was very happy to see him having an opportunity like this with great financial conditions. You signed for a few years there. I wanted to make this special thank you in front of you,” he said.

In his last contact with the athletes, after three years and three months at Botafogo-SP, Paulo Pelaipe stated that he wants to keep in touch with everyone, even if virtually.

“I just want to thank all of you. I’m moving on to a new stage in my life thanks to the work you helped me do, the coaching staff, all the athletes. All the athletes who trusted me. You deserve. It’s a group that doesn’t bother, is professional and I’ll be supporting it at every game. You will achieve that goal, you will win that prize by placing Botafogo in Série A. I want God to enlighten everyone, I have no words to thank you. Thank you very much, don’t forget my phone number. You are always in my heart. Thank you!” he concluded.

Paulo Pelaipe’s agreement with Cruzeiro

This Monday (30), Paulo Pelaipe agreed with Pedro Lourenço’s management to be manager of Sociedade Anônima de Futebol (SAF). To Itatiaia, the experienced professional highlighted the greatness of Cruzeiro and the importance of the Cruzeiro fans.

“Of course Cruzeiro is a big team. Which manager wouldn’t want to work at a club like Cruzeiro. A club that has strength, size, a strong fan base,” he told Itatiaia.

Career of Paulo Pelaipe

Paulo Pelaipe has been the football director of Botafogo-SP since 2021. Previously, he worked as football manager at Flamengo, in 2019. At the club, he was champion of Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian Championship and the Copa Libertadores da América. In his first spell with the red-black team, between 2012 and 2014, he won the Campeonato Carioca and the Copa do Brasil.

Another notable job for Pelaipe was at Grêmio, where the manager began his football career. He participated in winning the Copa do Brasil in 2001, Série B in 2005, and was runner-up in the Libertadores in 2007.

Pelaipe is an old acquaintance of Alexandre Mattos. The two are part of the Brazilian Association of Football Executives (ABEX). “I know Alexandre, we have a good relationship through Abex (Brazilian Association of Football Executives) and since the times when I was at Grêmio and he was at América”, he highlighted.