São Paulo are one of the most famous football teams in Brazil. They won a hat-trick of league titles between 2006 and 2008 and they were even crowned Club World Cup Champions in 2005 following a continental success and intercontinental victory over Liverpool F.C.

Yet, since those great successes, the club have been languishing slightly. They won the Copa Sudamericana; South America’s answer to the Europa League, in 2012 and this season's São Paulo state league, but that has been all for the best part of 15 years.

Unfortunately for São Paulo within their own city and state they have three fierce rivals that have historically outperformed them; Corinthians, Palmeiras and Santos. They make up three of the four sides, along with Flamengo, that have won more league titles than São Paulo (who still have the fifth most league titles in Serie A history.)

Despite the stiff competition, São Paulo are an ambitious club with a demanding fanbase. They have been on an unacceptable lull of form for way too long now and so they have looked to the international transfer market in order to change their fortunes.

The club have made two big signings in this transfer window, despite paying a penny in transfer fees. James Rodríguez and Lucas Moura are two household names in global football and now they will be sharing the dressing room together at São Paulo. Both players have been able to join for free after their latest contracts expired with their previous clubs.

In bringing Colombian James and Brazilian Lucas Moura to the club in a matter of days this summer, São Paulo made a sizable investment and perhaps an even bigger statement as to what they want to achieve going forward.

Lucas Moura is returning home to his boyhood club after 11 years. He has signed a short term deal until the end of the 2023 season, but if things go well then he might stick around for a bit longer. The homecoming star made 35 appearances for Brazil and scored a famous Champions League semi-final winning hat-trick for Tottenham Hotspur.

James Rodriguez, on the other hand, has already committed to a two-year contract with the club. The Ex-Real Madrid and Everton star’s contract was clearly a priority for the club despite a rocky patch in his career that saw underwhelming spells in Greece and Qatar.

São Paulo will be hoping that the Colombian can replicate the form that saw him spring to stardom back in Brazil at the World Cup in 2014. On the grandest stage of them all James won the Golden Boot, the award for ‘Best Goal' and received a place in the ‘Team of the Tournament.’ Days after the competition he signed for Real Madrid for over $80 million.

Despite the pair’s incredible ability to star in any game at the very highest level; they have had less than consistent careers. Lucas Moura found himself in and out of the line-up at Spurs for years and James has turned into a bit of a journeyman after flopping at various clubs.

Now, Lucas Moura is 31 and James is 32. With that in mind there is a risk that things won’t go to plan for the club. Will the players have the quality, consistency and drive to make a difference in the Brazilian Serie A? São Paulo will be banking on it.

Ability is there in abundance. There is absolutely no doubt about that, but these players know all too well that playing in Brazil is no holiday. There are no easy end of career pay days here. The fanbase simply will not accept it.

Just look at how certain sections of Paris St Germain fans jeered Lionel Messi during his final games for their club. They could sense that the forward wasn’t 100% committed to their team, and no matter how good he was that was enough for them to turn on the World Cup winner. Nobody is safe.

São Paulo currently sit 10th in the Brazilian Serie A table and they have made it to the last 8 of the Copa Sudameriana. They have also just defeated fierce rivals Corinthians with a Lucas Moura goal to reach the Brazilian Cup Final. Silverware therefore is still a serious possibility for the club, and their goal of returning to the Copa Libertadores next year is well within reach. If they are to come good on their targets, new signings James and Lucas Moura will be key.