Brazilian journalist [**Jorge Nicola**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCl8HQcIJVM&ab_channel=CanaldoNicola) reports that São Paulo are preparing to vote on the creation of an investment fund for their youth academy, and Evangelos Marinakis is being linked to the project.
The Greek businessman, who owns Nottingham Forest, has already signed a memorandum of understanding with the Brazilian club that expresses his interest in joining the venture.
Nicola explains in his YouTube channel that the plan is to establish an investment fund, aimed at raising money to sign top South American prospects at an early age, from under-11 through to under-20.
São Paulo’s academy is already one of the most respected in South America, having produced a long list of high-profile players in recent decades.
The likes of Kaká, Oscar, Casemiro, Lucas Moura, Éder Militão, Antony and more recently Beraldo all came through their youth system before making big moves to European football.
A local company, Galápagos, has already pledged R$200m (£28m), and Marinakis could contribute an additional R$100m (£14m) if the model is approved.
Such a move would give the Nottingham Forest owner several advantages inside the project. He could appoint trusted representatives at the training ground, have priority in securing young talents, influence training strategies, and also take a percentage of future sales. Nicola points out that the higher the contribution, the greater the privileges investors can secure.
Before Marinakis can formalise his role, São Paulo must pass the motion to approve the fund. The first vote is scheduled for this afternoon, with a second round planned for September.
São Paulo has been looking for even more investors recently, with the ultimate goal of becoming the best youth academy in the continent by 2028. According to Nicola, the expectation is that the initiative will go ahead, with or without Marinakis.