Mário Rui, after seven and a half years at Nápoles, terminated his contract and is now a free agent. His former agent, Mario Giuffredi, revealed to Tuttomercato that a Portuguese director from São Paulo contacted Mário Rui, and he considered the possibility. Despite having a closed contract, Mário Rui decided against the move.

Mário Rui revealed that he rejected an offer from São Paulo during the summer. He described the proposal as intriguing and expressed gratitude towards São Paulo. However, due to family considerations and some difficult dynamics, he decided it was not the right move at the time. As a result, he remained without playing for six months.

Mario Rui rejected offers from Lille, Real Valladolid, Nice, and São Paulo, opting to stay at Napoli despite uncertainties about his playing time.

A Brazilian club is looking to fill the gap left by Welington's departure, after unsuccessful negotiations with Alex Sandro. The Portuguese full-back, who has a contract until 2026, has lost his place in the team and is currently seeking a new destination. Gianluca Di Marzio, a journalist specializing in the transfer market for Italian Sky Sport, reported that the Brazilian club has initiated talks with the Italian side. The São Paulo team is aiming to compensate for Welington's move to Southampton, following the breakdown of the deal with Alex Sandro.