Toloi Unveiled in São Paulo, Excited for New Journey

According to UOL, Rafael Toloi has been officially presented as São Paulo’s new player and shared his enthusiasm about returning to the club after a decade in Europe. The 33-year-old defender stated he has returned more experienced and ready to help at a critical point in the season.

“Every athlete dreams of playing for São Paulo, and I get this chance for a second time. I am very motivated. I am no longer the young player I was; I’m a father of two now, and I gained valuable experience in Europe. I want to come back and start a new chapter here,” said the center-back, who played for São Paulo from 2012 to 2014, winning the Copa Sudamericana.

Toloi acknowledged that he had interest from other teams both in Brazil and abroad, but São Paulo was always his first choice. “I felt it was time for a change. I received offers from other clubs, but I didn’t discuss anything with them. I waited for the right moment, and when São Paulo reached out, my motivation was very strong. I returned because I had good experiences here and want to have them again,” he shared.

After ten years at Atalanta, the defender mentioned he is in good physical condition after three weeks of training during the international break. “I arrived at a crucial point in the season. We have two major tournaments, the Brasileirao and the Libertadores. I am confident I can contribute with my experience and what I learned in Italy,” he concluded.