Portugal investigates the fees of Militao's transfer

The Portuguese Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating the 9.72 million euros in resulting fees from the 50 million that Real Madrid paid in 2019 for the signing of Eder Militao from Porto.

According to what was revealed this Thursday by Portuguese newspaper 'Publico', there are two agents in the spotlight: Bruno Macedo, one of the four Portugese arrested in the Operation 'Tarjeta Roja' which forced Benfice president Luis Filipe Vieira to resign; as wel as Brazilian Giuiliano Bertolucci.

In August 2018, Porto bought 90% of the rights of Militao from Sao Paulo, totalling 8.5 million euros. In March 2019 Real Madrid bought 100% of the rights for 50 million, leaving Porto beneficiaries of some 38.16 million euros.

However, according to the aforementioned source, 21% of the amount that Porto took in went to the two intermediaries. It continues to explain that they are both also under suspicion for the first deal, that saw Militao join Porto from Sao Paulo.

The same source continues that it is at this stage where Pedro Pinho comes in. The man is an entrepeneur with strong ties to the Porto president Jorgo Nuno Pinto da Costa who, a few months ago, was accused of assaulting a cameraman from the Portuguese television station 'TVI'.

That investigation, according to 'Publico', came from an anonymous tip that explained how part of the fees from said operation had allegedly been used to buy off players and referees. The source reveals that Pinho was also an associate of Alexandre Pinto da Costa - son of the current Porto president - in another company also related to football.