Sá Pinto was appointed at the start of the 2025-26 Iran Professional League (IPL) season but has failed to meet expectations.
Esteghlal has suffered two losses—against Al Wasl of the UAE and Bahrain’s Al-Muharraq in the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Two.
The Blues have also shown poor form in the IPL, winning only one of six matches. Sá Pinto had replaced Mojtaba Jabbari but has not delivered the desired results.
Now, Esteghlal appears to be moving toward parting ways with Sá Pinto, with Farhad Majidi and Mojtaba Jabbari among the candidates for the job.