Palmeiras is not a bank and needs to win titles, says Leila Pereira

“Leila, call Palmeiras and see how the game was.”

Leila Pereira, 19, an intern at TV Manchete’s sports department, responded to the request of her husband, banker José Roberto Lamacchia. In the early 1980s, pre-internet, she would call the club to find out what the score was.

Almost four decades later, she is the first female president in the club’s history. Elected in November last year as the only candidate, she became a well-known name in football in the wake of Crefisa’s sponsorship of Palmeiras. Partnership of around R$ 120 million annually and started in 2015.

Leila is president of the finance company and Lamacchia is the controlling shareholder.

In an interview with Sheet, she laughs at the rumors that as a child she was a vascaina, but recognizes that she is a stranger in the nest. She is a woman with a carioca accent, who eight years ago no fan knew who she was and today is in charge of one of the biggest clubs in the country.

It is a very different job for Leila Pereira. Mainly because, unlike the bank, it does not aim at profit. She says she doesn’t want Palmeiras with a safe full of money. The goal is to win.

“I’m a good number 9 and I don’t miss goals”, he guarantees.

Were you a vascaina in your childhood? I never cared about football. There was no team. I started following Palmeiras when I started dating my husband, who has always been very Palmeiras. Love [pelo Palmeiras] It happened and it got really strong. Gradually I became more involved because of my husband from Palmeiras, because of our brands stamping the uniform… I didn’t have the dimension of football’s strength for a brand.

What advantage does a banker have in managing a football club like Palmeiras? the chairman of the board [Seraphim del Grande] told me that one of the qualities I have is the ability to say no. I do and I need it. And I say “no” no problem.

Fans may think that, because Crefisa is a bank, they have an open check to finance signings for Palmeiras. Fans demand a lot of signings. This is defined by our technician. Crefisa is a bank. Palmeiras, no. Palmeiras need investment to sign good players. For example: I don’t sell an athlete who is playing well.

People ask how I’m going to keep such a player. Simple, he has a contract and it is to be fulfilled. If you pay the fine, fine. Otherwise, not seeing. Palmeiras is not supposed to have a cash register. The resources have to exist to invest in football. Palmeiras need to win titles and titles can only be won with the best.

​Since you took office, Palmeiras won the Recopa Sul-Americana and Paulista, but there were criticisms regarding the absence of a number 9 and dismissals made at the club. Do you think the criticism happened for being a woman? If I had felt prejudice, I would not have been elected with the overwhelming number of votes I received. It would be hypocritical to say that. I think there’s this thing about me being a woman and being carioca with a carioca accent as president of one of the biggest clubs in the world. This is a victory for all women. I’ve never campaigned for a feminist, but it’s important for women.

There is the case of José Berenguer, from XP, who was in Santos, the Moreira Salles involved in Botafogo. Does football’s unpredictability and adrenaline fascinate bankers? Exercise, yes. But I’ll tell you something, I don’t know if it’s because I’m cold, objective, but I’m very down to earth. At the Worlds, we were one step away from winning our second world championship. They asked if I was nervous and I said no. The work had already been arduous to get there. Football can happen anything. You have to be prepared.

What this role brings is a lot of responsibility. I cannot let our millions of fans down. I don’t go into the field to do more or less. I’m a good number 9 and I don’t miss goals.

But how is it for someone used to the financial market, to numbers, to rationality, to be in an environment where if the ball hits the post and goes in, everyone is a genius. But if it hits the beam and leaves, is everyone an idiot? It’s not easy. But if the ball hits the post and goes out, everyone can see the effort made. People know there was a struggle. Football is like life. It’s live and in color. There’s no rehearsal. Sometimes the crowd may not understand. But I understand. If it hits the beam and leaves, we’ll do our best and next time we’ll do it.

Since the current charge is for a number 9, why wasn’t he hired? Any player that Abel [Ferreira, o treinador] suggested, if he didn’t come, it wasn’t for money. It was because the other team didn’t want to sell or because the athlete was in Europe and didn’t want to come.

We don’t have shirt 9 and we made four [no São Paulo, na final do Estadual]. We don’t have shirt 9, but look how many titles [foram conquistados]. Football is not an exact science. It may be that a 9 comes and it doesn’t fit. But I understand our fans. He is the club’s greatest asset.

The absence of Palmeiras was discussed at a meeting promoted by XP to talk about the new club league. What is your position on this? The league is fundamental and I am one of the biggest enthusiasts. But the question is for the clubs to understand each other. There is no point in arranging a two or three hour meeting with companies that are going to find investors. First, we need to form the league. I’m not going to spend two hours in a meeting, which I hate, to solve nothing.

I believe the league is going to leave and it needs to leave. I will work hard for it. Brazilian football cannot sustain itself much longer in the way clubs are struggling today.

Some clubs are looking for the limited company model after the passing of the SAF law. And Palmeiras? I am against turning Palmeiras into a company. It’s a very big club, you know? I think you can leave it as an association but being professionally run. But not just in speech. In practice, as I’m doing.

​In addition to the sponsorship contract, Crefisa made loans to Palmeiras to hire reinforcements. How much does the club owe the company and how will it be paid? The debt is between R$120 million and R$130 million. Payment would be made on the sale of players. If the athlete leaves at the end of the contract, Palmeiras has two years to pay. That’s it.

If you are reelected at the end of 2024, you will have to renegotiate, as president of Palmeiras, the renewal of the sponsorship contract with the company where you are president. How will this be possible? No problem. I have several directors here and they are going to make a proposal to Palmeiras. I submit this and the COF (Guidance and Inspection Council) will decide and I can submit it to the deliberative council. They are the ones who will decide. I don’t even vote that day. I will abstain. So it’s all very transparent.

For you there is no conflict of interest? If you have a sponsorship issue, the Palmeiras council will decide, it won’t be me. I’ve heard a lot about conflict of interest, but so far no one has come directly to me about it.

The lady became known among Palmeiras fans as “Aunt Leila”. How do you react to that nickname?For me, it’s amazing to walk down the street and have people’s affection. Sometimes, they are not even Palmeiras. I love “Aunt Leila”. It’s affectionate. It’s beautiful.